Eatery diners, staff hit with fines

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: Some 39 people, customers and staff, caught at a restaurant serving alcohol and opening after hours on Wednesday night have each been fined 12,500 baht and given suspended twomonth prison sentences, police said yesterday.

The Nakhon Ratchasima Court imposed the sentence on the 28 diners and 11 employees arrested at the Lamer Restaurant & Karaoke in downtown Muang district, acting district chief Narongchon Deepu said.

The restaurant was raided about 10.30pm on Wednesday.

It was operating outside legal hours, there was live music and people were being served alcohol — all in breach of the provincial disease control order and the emergency decree, Mr Narongchon said provincial authorities would also take action against the operator of the restaurant.

He said businesses must strictly abide by the law during the Covid19 outbreak. Officials were dutybound to prosecute offenders.

He advised people and businesses to be more patient with the restrictions, as the situation would soon improve.