Two KTV owners, dozens of employees charged with regulatory violations

By Admin 05 Aug 2023

DMG Newsroom
5 August 2023, Sittwe
 
Sixty-four people including the owners of White House KTV in Sittwe’s Anaut Sanpya Ward and Sweet Dream KTV in Mingan Ward have been charged under Section 32 of the Television and Video Law at Sittwe’s Myoma police station, according to sources close to the police station.
 
Among those charged are the owner of White House KTV and 49 employees, and the owner of Sweet Dream KTV and 15 employees, including the manager. Section 32 covers a handful of provisions related to licensure for the public use of video. 
 
“The police filed a lawsuit against the owners of two KTVs and employees under Section 32 of the Television and Video Law. The police raided the two KTVs on the same day. The police detained about 60 people at White House KTV, but released some guests the next morning,” said a local man close to White House KTV.
 
Junta soldiers and police in eight vehicles raided the KTV venues at just after midnight on July 30 and took the manager and employees to Sittwe’s Myoma police station.
 
Some of the arrestees were released on bail on July 31 and the remainder were charged under Section 32 of the Television and Video Law. DMG continues to attempt to contact Sittwe’s Myoma police station officials to find out more about the matter.
 
Section 32 of the Television and Video Law stipulates that a punishment of up to three years imprisonment, a fine of 100,000 kyats, or both can be imposed.
 
A man who had been a regular at White House KTV said: “White House KTV is still open. If we go there with friends, we are still afraid that the police will raid us again.”
 
The junta on July 5 instructed restaurants, KTVs, bars, other music venues, nightclubs and massage parlours nationwide to operate only with the relevant business licences, and to close down if operating without a licence.
 
The junta has been conducting inspections in cities such as Yangon, Mandalay and Mawlamyine to crack down on KTVs that do not comply with the regulatory framework.

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Caption: White House KTV in Sittwe