The 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 two-month prison sentences.
The news comes just as Thailand are trying to appear tourism friendly again after a long, baron period without visitors or income for millions of Thai families.
And now, just as the idiots in charge appear to relaxing their immigration conditions, some police and courts are doing their best to prevent anybody from wanting to visit certain provinces with jail sentences (suspended) handed down for having a few beers with dinner.
The Nakhon Ratchasima Court on Friday passed 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 by police and local officials. 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 Covid-19 outbreak. Officials were duty-bound to prosecute offenders.
He advised people and businesses to be more patient with the restrictions, as the situation would soon improve.
