By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Feb 19: The Sessions Court here has fined a beauty salon owner RM25,000 or six months imprisonment for operating a private dental clinic without a license in Matang.
Norsuzela Sabini, 38, pleaded guilty to the charge, which was read before Judge Saiful Bahari Adzmi.
According to the charge, Norsuzela had provided private dental services without proper registration under Section 27 of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586) by offering veneer installation, which is classified as a dental procedure.
The offence was committed at her beauty and spa premises in Matang.
Based on case facts, a team from the Sarawak State Health Department’s Private Medical Practice Control Branch, along with officers from the Dental Health Enforcement Unit and the Pharmaceutical Enforcement Unit, conducted a raid on the premises following suspicions of illegal dental services.
During the operation, the lead officer inspected the first floor of the premises and introduced themselves to a female worker, but no suspicious activities were detected.
However, upon further instructions, the worker contacted Norsuzela, who then opened the second floor for inspection.
Authorities discovered various documents and equipment linked to illegal dental services, all of which were listed in the department’s seizure inventory.
When questioned, Norsuzela was unable to present a valid clinic registration certificate or an Annual Practicing Certificate (APC).
Checks with the Malaysian Dental Council (MDC) also revealed that Norsuzela was not a registered dental practitioner and had never been issued an APC.
A police report was lodged to facilitate further investigation, which later confirmed that the premises lacked the necessary registration, approval, and licensing under Act 586.
The prosecution was led by two officers from the Sarawak State Health Department, Shamsulnizam Kassim and Nozaizeli Abu Samah. Norsuzela was not represented by a lawyer.
She was charged under Section 4(1) of Act 586 and faced punishment under Section 5(1)(a) of the same Act.
If convicted, the law stipulates a maximum fine of RM300,000, imprisonment of up to six years, or both.
Following her guilty plea, the court imposed a fine of RM25,000, with a six-month prison sentence as the alternative if she failed to pay. – DayakDaily
