KUCHING: Police have crippled an online gambling syndicate following a raid at a call centre here which has been raking over RM4.05 million in profits in the past nine months of operations.
Kuching OCPD ACP Ahsmon Bajah said the syndicate was operating the call centre in a condominium unit at Jalan Ming Chung here.
He said seven foreign nationals including two women, working as operators at the premises, were arrested during the raid conducted at 3pm on Tuesday (Jul 13).
Various types of computers used to operate the call centre were also seized.
“Based on our investigations, the syndicate has been operating for nine months with a total profit of RM4.05 million,” Ahsmon told a press conference today (Jul 14).
During the raid, police were alerted by passers-by that three of the suspects had fled the scene by jumping off the second floor of the condominium building.
“Two of the suspects sustained injuries including a broken hip and a broken leg while another suspect managed to escape,” he explained.
Subsequently, police raided another call centre located on the second floor of the same building.
“There, we arrested three people including two locals and one foreign national and confiscated equipment including mobile phones used to operate the centre.
“The second call centre which has been operating for three months made a total profit of RM270,000,” said Ahsmon.
He revealed that the modus operandi of both call centres were identical, that was to promote online gambling through WhatsApp, WeChat, Telegram as well as Facebook.
“All the arrests and seizures are being investigated under Section 4(1)(g) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953,” he said.
Ahsmon emphasised that the police would continue to crack down on online gambling syndicates in the state, saying that the illicit activity was detrimental to the nation’s economy in terms of tax evasion and licensing fees.
“They don’t have any licences and don’t pay individual or company taxes because they are not companies.
“So we will be working with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), local police, Bank Negara Malaysia and other agencies to eradicate this menace,” he assured.
