KUALA LUMPUR: A magistrate's court here has fined the operator of Raj's Banana Leaf restaurant RM5,000 over its failure to report the hiring of foreign workers to the Labour Department.

Intercompass Sdn Bhd, which owns the restaurant, was charged with two counts of failing to report the details of employment of two foreign workers to the nearest Labour Department within 14 days of their employment.

The two workers are Indian nationals Suresh Chinniah and Rajalingam Kumarasamy.

The company was charged under Section 60K(1) of the Employment Act 1955 and punishable under Section 60K(5) of the same Act, which carries a maximum RM10,000 fine.

Company director Muhamad Rizal Abd Rahman, 40, who appeared on behalf of the company, was unrepresented.

He pleaded guilty to the offence and asked for a lenient sentence.

Prosecuting officer Mohd Dzahiruddin Mat Salleh from the Labour Department told the court that the case involved public interest and had gone viral.

Magistrate Wong Chai Sia then passed the sentence.

He also ordered for a warrant of levy to be issued if the company failed to pay the fine.

The company paid the fine.

Raj's Banana Leaf was thrown into the spotlight after a 30-second video clip emerged on social media, which showed workers squatting at the back of the restaurant scrubbing and rinsing plates in what appeared to be a puddle of muddy water in a pothole next to a drain.

The restaurant was later shut down by the KL Health Office.