The outdoor area around City Plaza is a common hangout spot for Indonesian domestic helpers to rest and catch up with their friends over the weekends.

So it's not surprising to see them having picnics at the empty space right beside the mall located in Paya Lebar.

But carrying out an alfresco food business?

Pots and portable stoves left unattended

On Dec. 15, JihanDevilish Joy Humaira uploaded the following video onto Facebook showing what looked like illegal hawking:

It showed pink plastic sheets with bowls of leftover bakso (Indonesian beef balls) and steaming pots on portable gas stoves being left unattended.

Allegedly selling bakso to others

It turns out that even though this may look like an epic meal time picnic setting, it was allegedly a business where bakso was being sold to Indonesian domestic helpers -- freshly prepared on the spot.

According to the woman filming the video, the bakso seller was nowhere to be found after a group of National Environment Agency (NEA) officers were seen taking away the items on site as they put a stop to the sale.

Mothership has reached out to NEA for comment.

Call Singapore a "very strict" country

The woman behind the camera also warned others to be careful and said Singapore is a "very strict" country.

In case you don't understand Bahasa Indonesia, this is a rough translation of the entire video:

"Where is the lady selling (the bakso)? Oh no, the person is nowhere to be found. I don't know where's the bakso seller.

Oh no, what a pity... Singapore is a very strict country, the bakso seller will be fined... You can't sell bakso like this. Be careful, you guys.

Be careful to everyone who's selling food (like this)."

Illegal hawking

According to NEA, those found hawking illegally may have their goods and items seized and be fined S$300, S$400 and S$500 for the first, second, third offences respectively.

Upon the fourth and subsequent offences, they will be prosecuted in court.

Top image screenshot via video