KUCHING: A 22-year-old man was fined RM1,500, in default one month’s imprisonment, by the Magistrate’s Court here today (May 7) for engaging in online gambling at a public place.
Magistrate Nursyaheeqa Nazwa Radzali meted out the sentence on Izzat Nur Fitri Ahmat after he pleaded guilty to the charge under Section 7(2) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.
Section 7(2) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 provides for a fine of up to RM5,000 or imprisonment of up to six months, or both, upon conviction.
According to the facts of the case, at about 5:50 pm on April 4, a team from the Kuching District Police Headquarters’ Criminal Investigation Department conducted a raid at an unnamed coffee shop along Jalan Petanak here.
During the operations, police arrested the accused for allegedly carrying out online gambling activities in a public place.
The court heard that the accused had been gambling at the five-foot way of the coffee shop, an area accessible to the public, thus constituting an offence under the law.
Investigations revealed that the accused had been using an Oppo mobile phone to access online gambling games, where winnings were determined purely by luck and did not require any particular skill or technique.
Police also seized a handwritten note containing an online gambling ID and password.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor, Muhammad Afiq Safly Nor Kazly, while the accused was unrepresented.
