KUCHING, Jan 8: Police operations against illegal gambling continued unabated into the new year with dozens of operators and gamblers arrested.
From Jan 1 to 7, the state CID conducted 27 successful gambling raids, resulting in the arrests of 75 individuals.
According to Sarawak CID chief SAC Datuk Dev Kumar, 10 of the raids were at convenience stores and coffee shops offering online gambling reload services.
The raids conducted by teams from CID HQ and district CIDs throughout the state were from IPK (5), Kuching (4), Miri (4), Padawan (4), Sibu (2), Limbang (2), Bintulu (1), Sri Aman (1), Sarikei (1), Kota Samarahan (1), Bau (1), Mukah (1).
“Efforts to eradicate online gambling continued with raids conducted at 24-hour convenience stores and coffee shops offering reload services to online gamblers.
“Ten raids were conducted in six districts (Kuching, Padawan, Miri, Bintulu, Sri Aman and Limbang) resulted in the arrests of 21 service providers and gamblers. Police also seized 17 tablets and mobile phones and cash amounting to RM3,934,” Dev said.
Another 16 raids were conducted at counters selling illegal 4D in nine districts.
“The raids resulted in the arrests of 17 individuals and seizure of cash amounting to RM5,789. Mobile phones, portable printers, calculators, betting slips and stationeries were also seized,” he said.
The biggest raid was conducted at a cock-fighting pit in Batu Niah, Miri on New Year’s Day.
A team from CID HQ led by ASP Lim Jaw Shyong conducted the raid at 2pm in an open area at Hulu Suai, Niah, Miri.
“Thirty-seven gamblers were arrested for cock-fighting in a make-shift tent. Live and dead cockerels and gambling paraphernalia related to cock-fighting were seized,” Dev added.
Of the 75 arrested, 68 were males while the rest were females. They were aged between 17 and 62 years old. Eight of those arrested were foreigners.
All those arrested are being investigated for offences under the Common Gaming House Act 1953 and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance 1962. — DayakDaily
