Kota Kinabalu: A food vendor was fined RM1,800 or one-month jail by the Magistrate’s Court here for selling contaminated food at a Ramadan Bazaar six months ago.
Arna Jamaludin, 41, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie to selling Mango dish containing 3.4 x 10^2 CFU/g Staphylococcus aureus bacteria which violated Regulation 39(2) of the Food Regulations 1985 at Bakso Nusantara food stall, Metrotown Ramadan Bazaar here at 2.25pm on March 27, this year.
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Arna was charged under Regulation 397(1) of the Food Regulations 1985, punishable under Regulation 397(2) of the same Regulations which provides for a fine of up to RM10,000 or up to two years, or both, on conviction.
Health prosecuting officer Arnila Ahmad informed the court that the health enforcement team, who went to the bazaar to conduct food sampling activities took four food samples including the mango dish from Arna’s stall and sent them to the Kota Kinabalu Public Health Laboratory for analysis.
On April 12, the analysis showed that the mango dish contained 3.4x10^2 CFU/g Staphylococcus aureus bacteria exceeding the rate set in accordance with the Food Regulations 1985, the court heard.
Arna, in requesting for a lenient sentence, said she is facing financial problems and bears a high family burden.
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She also promised not to repeat such offence in the future.
Arnila submitted that Staphylococcus aureus is a bacteria found in food and that food can become dangerous to health if food is not handled properly.
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The prosecution applied for a deterrent sentence as a lesson to Arna as it involved public health.
Meanwhile, a 19-year-old was fined RM400 or one-week jail for smoking in a restaurant, which is a no-smoking area, last year.
Liew Chern Shiang admitted to smoking at a food premises in Lintas Square on Aug 24, 2022 at 3.25pm
Arnila told the court that on the said day Liew was seen smoking at the premises by the health enforcement on duty, who then approached him and informed him that the restaurant area is a no-smoking area.
The officers then took the cigarette from Liew to be used as an exhibit, the court heard.
Liew had violated an offence under Regulation 11(1) (d) of the Control of Tobacco Products Regulations 2004 and committed an offence under Regulation 11(3) of the same Regulations which provides a fine of up to RM10,000 or imprisonment of up to two years on conviction.
Both Arna and Liew paid their respective fines.
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