Twenty-four people, including three bar-owners and a bartender, were arrested by officers of the South Western Division during COVID-19 bar exercises conducted in the Penal and Siparia districts on Friday.

The exercises were conducted between 5:00pm and 9:00pm, in the Penal district and 9:00pm and 12 midnight, in the Siparia district.

During the first exercise, officers of the Penal Police Station, Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and South Western Division Task Force (SWDTF), proceeded to a bar at Laltoo Trace Junction, Penal, where they found 13 persons inside the establishment. The 45-year-old proprietor and 39-year-old bartender, were arrested for providing the amenity of seated dining at a restaurant and conducting the business of a bar during specified period under Public Health Regulations, Legal Notice 18/2020. Eleven patrons were arrested for gathering at a public place where the number of persons exceeded ten persons under the Public Health Regulations, Legal Notice 18/2020.

During the second exercise in the Siparia district, officers of the Siparia Police Station, CID and SWDTF proceeded to a bar located at Anthony Branch Trace, Syne Village, Siparia, where they found 11 persons inside the establishment.

Two proprietors, a 30-year-old and a 21-year-old, who were also acting as bartenders, were arrested for providing the amenity of seated dining at a restaurant and conducting the business of a bar during specified period under Public Health Regulations, Legal Notice 18/2020. The nine patrons were arrested for gathering at a public place where the number of persons exceeded ten persons under the Public Health Regulations, Legal Notice 18/2020.