A manager of a Korean restaurant in Bangkok's Sukhumvit area and almost 120 customers were arrested for defying the state of emergency and Covid-19 control rules on Saturday night, police said.
Sirichai Samnakhon, manager of XOXO restaurant, was charged with serving alcoholic beverages and operating the premises beyond the permitted hours while 116 customers were booked for violating the public gathering regulation, police said.
Bangkok is in the maximum control zone where gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited and restaurants are required to close at 10pm following the easing of virus curbs which took effect on Oct 16.
Police turned up at the venue around 10.45pm to check on a complaint about the large number of people still on the premises and found 89 Thai and 27 foreign customers at the eatery located on the 3rd floor of Sukhumvit Plaza building known as Korea Town.
Police said they found dozens of beer mugs and glasses scattered on the tables while empty beer bottles and 85 bills for alcoholic drinks were found in the cashier area.
Police said the activities were in violation of the state of emergency and related Covid-19 restrictions.
The manager and the customers were taken to Lumpini police station to acknowledge the charges.