IPOH: The saying “once bitten, twice shy” is lost on one restaurant along Jalan Sultan Yusof here as it has been compounded yet again for violating standard operating procedures. The outlet, which was recently raided by the police on Christmas Eve, was caught flouting the rules again during a special New Year’s Eve operation on Friday night.

       Perak police chief Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said that during the 11pm raid, they found the premises, which served as a restaurant, had been turned into a pub.

       There were 311 customers on the property although it could only accommodate not more than 100 people.

       “They were sitting close to each other and failed to observe physical distancing. We have issued a RM1,000 compound on each patron and the restaurant owner,” he was quoted by Bernama as he spoke to reporters at the scene on Friday.

       He said compounds totalling RM300,000 were issued against 177 men and 99 women, including 35 underage individuals who were at the premises.

       The premises was previously raided for operating beyond the time set by the National Security Council, he added.

       Mior Faridalathrash said 48 raids were carried out and 74 roadblocks were mounted, involving 901 officers and personnel, during the special 12-hour operation from 6pm on Friday.

       “Checks were made against 3,637 individuals. Out of this, 23 people aged between 17 and 46 were detained for drug and criminal offences.

       “Police also inspected 2,938 vehicles and issued 274 summonses for various traffic offences,” he said.