GEORGE TOWN: A total of 25 Bangladeshi nationals were fined RM5,000 each after they pleaded guilty to flouting the standard operating procedures (SOP) for the Movement Control Order (MCO) by gathering during the recent Hari Raya Aidiladha.
The fine, totalling RM125,000, was meted out by the Sessions Court after all 25 foreigners registered their guilty plea when the charge was read to them before Judge Norsalha Hamzah.
All 25, aged between 23 and 41, were jointly charged with gathering for social purposes at a house at Taman Desa Mutiara in Batu Maung about 9pm on Tuesday.
They were charged under Regulation 10(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2021.
The offence carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or a maximum six months' jail, or both, upon conviction.
Norsalha then fined them RM5,000 each in default two months' jail if they fail to pay the fine.
Earlier, the court was also told that all the accused were construction labourers employed by the same company.
However, only 21 of them have legal documentation.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Rais Imran Hamid appeared for the prosecution while 21 of the accused were represented by their company lawyer, Muhammad Arif Shaharuddin.
It is learnt that they were nabbed after police stormed a house in Batu Maung following public complaints.