Police arrested 285 people at a nightclub in Phnom Penh Thmey commune in the capital’s Sen Sok district in the early hours of Tuesday for not following the Ministry of Health’s advice on Covid-19 preventive measures.

The municipal police’s minor crime bureau chief Bun Satya told The Post that his forces raided the Gold Line Club in an operation coordinated by municipal court deputy prosecutor Say Nora.

Municipal police chief Sar Thet said nightclubs and karaoke bars are not allowed to be open amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Prime Minister Hun Sen’s order is to not allow opening of nightclubs and karaoke establishments. We therefore had to close this location.

“Some of the detained were allowed to go home after being advised and some are still being questioned. They will be allowed to go home if they are not involved in other offences like drugs,” he said.

Satya said police are searching for the club owner whom he said does not reside in Sen Sok district.

In a directive dated March 17, the health ministry ordered the closures of karaoke parlours and nightclubs throughout the Kingdom until the covid-19 situation eases.

Deputy municipal governor Mean Chanyada referred reporters to spokesman Met Meas Pheakdey, who could not be reached for comment.

District governor Mov Manith declined to comment, saying he was in a Ministry of Interior meeting.