KUCHING: Continuous crackdown on illegal gambling by police personnel from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the state police contingent saw the arrests of dozens of operators and gamblers in 16 districts in Sarawak.
Sarawak CID chief, SAC Dato’ Dev Kumar Sree Shunmugam said for the past week, from 24 to 30 July, the state police conducted 32 raids against illegal gambling that resulted in the arrests of 55 individuals.
Twenty-five of the raids were against illegal 4D, cyber gambling (3), illegal cock-fighting (2) and gambling in a public place (2).
The raids were conducted by teams from CID HQ and district CID units. CID Headquarters conducted one raid in Marudi. Other than that CID Padawan conducted six raids, CID Kuching five raids, CID Sibu three raids; three raids each by CID Bintulu, CID Saratok, CID Sri Aman, and CID Sarikei.
The CID teams in Kanowit, Tatau, Song, Marudi, Limbang, Matu Daro, Meradong, Miri and Betong conducted one raid each.
The 25 raids on illegal 4D sellers resulted in the arrests of 30 individuals and seizure of cash amounting to RM3,254. Mobile phones, portable printers, betting slips, calculators and stationeries were also seized.
Apart from illegal 4D raids, three raids were conducted at cyber gambling outlets in Miri, Marudi and Lawas that resulted in the arrests of five individuals and seizure of 25 computers and tablets as well as RM2,280.
“Two raids were also conducted at cock-fighting pits in Padawan and Betong where 11 individuals were arrested and various paraphernalia used for cockfighting, including two live cockerels were seized. Besides that, nine individuals were also arrested for playing ‘holo’ in a public place in Sri Aman and Matu Daro,” said Dev Kumar.
Of the 55 arrested, 43 were males while the rest were females. They were aged between 18 and 85 years old.
All those arrested are being investigated for offences under the Common Gaming House Act 1953 and Prevention to Cruelty of Animals
Ordinance 1962.
