RM3k fine for selling salmonella-contaminated curry chicken

KUALA LUMPUR: A 'mamak' restaurant was fined RM3,000 or two months in jail by the magistrate's court here today for selling curry chicken contaminated with salmonella bacteria.
Magistrate Wong Chai Sia imposed the fine on ABC Food Corner, after its owner Ayoob Khan Muhamad Yakub, 56, pleaded guilty to committing the offence at Jalan 9/125D, Desa Petaling here, at 10.40am on Oct 3, 2017.
According to the facts of the case, an environmental health assistant officer bought curry chicken at the restaurant for RM4 as sampling for analysis at the Chemistry Department. The food was found to be contaminated with salmonella bacteria, which is the main cause of food poisoning.
In mitigation, the restaurant's owner, who was unrepresented, said it was his first offence after having operated the business for more than 20 years since 1998.
However, prosecuting officer Rofidah Abd Molok who represented the Cheras Health Office urged the court to impose the maximum sentence of RM50,000 in default two years imprisonment. — Bernama