KUCHING: The Magistrates’ Court here today (April 17) sentenced a 19-year-old Indonesian woman to a fine of RM10,000, in default three months’ imprisonment, for her involvement in online gambling activities early last month.
Agis Adelia pleaded guilty to the charge read before Magistrate Leona Dominic Mojiliu.
She was charged under Section 4B(a) of the Common Gaming House Act 1953, which provides for a fine of up to RM100,000 for each gaming machine seized and imprisonment of up to five years upon conviction.
The offence was committed on March 11 at 11:50 am at a café near a commercial centre along Jalan Stutong, where she was found operating a gaming activity using a mobile phone.
According to the facts of the case, police arrested Agis, who was seated in front of the counter of the premises, after suspecting her of conducting online sales of prepaid credit top-ups.
Initial checks on her mobile phone revealed that it was being used for online gambling activities, including registration and the reloading of gambling credits via e-pay mobile services.
Following her arrest, police seized one mobile phone and RM315 in cash, which she voluntarily handed over.
Investigations revealed that Agis had been conducting online gambling activities through the sale and top-up of gambling credits using her mobile phone.
The seized items were confirmed to belong to the accused.
A report from a gambling expert also confirmed that the mobile phone seized functioned as a gaming machine.
As such, she was found to have committed an offence under Section 4B(a) of the Common Gaming House Act 1953.
She is currently serving a three-month prison sentence under Section 6(1)(e) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155).
The court also ordered that she be referred to the Immigration Department of Malaysia upon completion of her sentence.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor, Muhammad Aidil Akmal Shahridan, while the accused was unrepresented.
