KUALA LUMPUR: A part-time waitress employed at a hotel in Johor was fined S$2,500 (approximately RM8,760) by a district court in Singapore for carrying out dental procedures without a valid licence.
The 37-year-old Malaysian pleaded guilty to one count under the Dental Registration Act, with a second similar charge taken into consideration.
According to Channel News Asia (CNA), the woman learned how to perform dental procedures on herself during the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is learned that this arose from her inability to attend dental appointments due to Malaysia's movement control orders aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19.
"She then learned how to perform procedures on her braces by watching videos on YouTube.
"She would enter Singapore on short-term visit passes to provide these illegal dental services at hotels," CNA reported.
It is learned that she started advertising dental services, such as veneers and tooth whitening, as well as braces treatment, charging clients between S$650 and S$700, performed within hotel rooms in Singapore.
Despite not being registered as a dentist under Singapore's Dental Registration Act and lacking a valid practice certificate, she proceeded with these procedures.
The woman fully paid the fine imposed, as the Singaporean health ministry prosecutor sought a fine, considering the potential risks of her unauthorised procedures causing serious harm.