RAJ’S BANANA LEAF OWNER FINED RM5,000

Firm fails to provide details of 2 foreign workers to Labour Department

ACOMPANY which owns Raj’s Banana Leaf restaurant in Bangsar was slapped with a RM5,000 fine by the magistrate’s court yesterday over its failure to provide details of two of its foreign workers to the Labour Department last January.

Magistrate Wong Chai Sia meted out the sentence against Intercompass Sdn Bhd, which was represented by its director, Muhamad Rizal Abd Rahman, 40, after the latter pleaded guilty to the offences.

The company was charged with failing to provide details of two of its Indian national workers — C. Suresh and K. Rajalingam — to the Labour Department, 14 days after they were employed.

The offences were allegedly committed at Menara Perkeso in Jalan Ampang, about 11am on Jan 22. The company was charged under Section 60K (1) of the Employment Act 1955, which carries a maximum fine of RM10,000.

Rizal, in pleading for a lenient sentence, said he did not know he had to submit the details to the authorities. However, prosecuting officer Mohd Dzahiruddin Mat Salleh @ Ismail pressed for a deterrent sentence, stating that the case involved public interest.

According to the facts of the case, the Labour Department had conducted a check at Intercompass’ office in Bangsar in January and found that it had failed to furnish employment details of two Indian workers within 14 days of their employment in 2016.

Raj’s Banana Leaf gained notoriety when a 30-second video of its workers washing eating utensils using water in a pothole, went viral in May.

The restaurant later issued an apology.