KUCHING: The police operations against illegal gambling in Sarawak continued last week with raids conducted in 15 districts, said Sarawak Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief, SAC Dato’ Dev Kumar.
He said from the 29 January to 4 February this year the state CID conducted 29 successful gambling raids that resulted in the arrests of 63 individuals. The number of raids and types of gambling involved were 16 raids on illegal 4D lottery; cyber gambling (nine raids); gambling in a gaming house (two raids) while there two raids done on gambling in a public place. The raids were conducted by teams from CID HQ and district CIDs.
These included three raids conducted in Padawan by CID from HQ; five raids in Miri, four raids in Kuching, three raid in Sibut; two raids in Padawan; two raids in Sarikei while there was one raid each in Bintulu; Betong; Kota Samarahan, Bau, Limbang, Marudi, Meradong, Kanowit, Julau and Lubuk Antu Dev said efforts to eradicate online gambling continued with raids conducted at 24-hour convenience stores and coffee shops offering reload services to online gamblers.
Nine raids were conducted in five districts (Padawan, Kota Samarahan, Betong, Marudi and Julau) that resulted in the arrests of 12 service providers and seizure of 12 mobile phones and cash amounting to RM3,595. Teams from CID HQ conducted three of the raids in Padawan. 16 raids were conducted at counters selling illegal 4D in nine districts. The raids resulted in the arrests of 18 individuals and seizure of cash amounting to RM2,392. Mobile phones, portable printers, calculators, betting slips and stationeries were also seized.
Two raids were conducted in shoplots converted as gaming houses in Miri. The first raid was conducted on Feb 2 this year at 5.55 pm at a shoplot above a spare parts shop at Krokop, Miri. The team led by Insp. Nasrul Hadi Bin Jahat had to cut open the padlock to enter the premises. 13 men, aged between 21 and 59 years old were arrested for playing “pai kow”.
Cash amounting to RM5,152, gambling chips valued at RM500 and RM1,000 and various other gambling paraphernalia were seized. The second raid was conducted on Feb 4 at 12.30 am at a shoplot at Simpang Ngu, Niah, Miri. The police team led Insp.Mizlan Bin Abd Ghani arrested 12 men, aged between 25 and 52 years old for playing “pai kow”.
Cash amounting to RM2,455, gambling chips valued from RM50 to RM1,000 and various other gambling paraphernalia were seized. Raids were also conducted at two public places in Sibu and Limbang where eight men were arrested for playing “holo”.
Cash amounting to RM2,608 and various other gambling paraphernalia were also seized. Of the 63 arrested, 48 were males while the rest were females. They were aged between 16 and 68 years old. Three of those arrested were foreigners. All those arrested are being investigated for offences under the Common Gaming House Act 1953.
