KUCHING: Police operations against illegal gambling activities in Sarawak intensified last week with raids conducted in 11 districts, said State CID chief, SAC Dato’ Dev Kumar. Dev said from 15 to 21 January, 2018, the state police conducted 31 successful gambling raids which resulted in the arrest of 59 individuals.
The types of gambling activities involved were 24 raids on illegal 4D gambling, five raids on cyber gambling and two raids on illegal cock-fighting.
The raids were conducted by teams from CID HQs and district CIDs. Seven raids were conducted by CID HQs in Kuching, Bau and Serian while six raids were conducted in Padawan.
Three raids were conducted in Kuching, three in Miri and three in Sibu while two raids were conducted in Bintulu, two in Saratok and two in Serian. A raid each was conducted in Kota Samarahan, Lawas and Tatau. Efforts to eradicate online gambling continued with raids conducted at 24-hour convenience stores and coffeeshops offering reload services to online gamblers.
Five raids were conducted in three districts (Padawan, Sibu and Serian) which resulted in the arrest of six service providers and seizure of six mobile phones and cash amounting to RM1,038. He added that the 24 raids were conducted at counters selling illegal 4D in 11 districts.
The raids resulted in the arrest of 29 individuals and seizure of cash amounting to RM4,463. Mobile phones, portable printers, calculators, betting slips and stationery were also seized. Teams from CID HQs conducted three of the raids in Kuching and three in Bau.
Two raids were conducted at cock-fighting pits in Serian and Saratok. On 21 January at 4.20 pm, a team from CID HQs led by Inspector Mohd Farid conducted a raid at an oil palm plantation at Kpg Merang, Serian. During the raid 17 gamblers were arrested and five live and dead cockerels including various gambling paraphernalia were confiscated. On the same day at 4.30 pm, a team from CID Saratok led by ASP Leonard ak Mallaca conducted a raid of a cock-fighting pit at Kpg Sungai Nyiur, Roban.
During the raid seven gamblers were arrested and eight live and dead cockerels including various gambling paraphernalia were confiscated. Of the 59 arrested, 42 were males while the rest were females. They were aged between 17 and 73 years.
Three foreigners were among those arrested. All the arrestees are being investigated for offences under the Common Gaming House Act, 1953 and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance, 1962.
