Two karaoke bars located in Denpasar reportedly stayed open during one of Indonesia’s strictest implementations of COVID-19 restrictions, with local authorities appearing to have been duped into thinking they were closed because the establishments operated in the dark — literally.
According to the police, authorities busted the karaoke bars thanks to a tip from citizens who suspected that they remained open and thus violating restrictions. The bars appeared to be closed from the outside after they turned off the lights illuminating the storefront.
I Dewa Gede Anom Sayoga, who heads the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) in Denpasar, said the two karaoke bars were fined IDR1 million (US$69.42) each, and have been ordered to close temporarily.
The Denpasar Police yesterday said that the bars’ staff have been called in for questioning, and that authorities are now monitoring the establishments in question to prevent repeat offences.
“We will continue to monitor [nightlife establishments]. We will act firmly by closing them if they are caught violating [curbs],” Terang Ginting from Denpasar Police’s Crime Investigation Unit, said.
A spokesman from one of the karaoke bars told local media outlets that they have officially remained closed during the Emergency Enforcement of Restrictions on Public Activities (Emergency PPKM) protocol, which prohibits nightlife businesses from operating.
However, they claim that some customers may have pushed their way in and were granted entry by the staff on duty, which has led to videos of their time at the bars circulating on the internet.
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