KUCHING: What began as an illegal cockfighting gathering at an open space in Padawan ended with nine men, several of them senior citizens, fined RM300 each in default one month’s jail by the Magistrates’ Court here today.
The nine pleaded guilty to a charge of assisting in an illegal cockfighting activity before Senior Assistant Registrar Abdurrahman Abrar Jami.
Those convicted were Abdul Latip Adam, 49; Zulkifli Mohamad Yussof, 43; Mohamed Abd Latip, 63; George Ong Kiok Leng, 58; Chan Yew Kong, 47; S’Ng Lee Soon, 62; Wong Chi Hoo, 70; Chin Hoon Fah, 71; and Chai Chon That, 84.
The court also ordered all seized exhibits to be forfeited.
They were charged with jointly assisting in a cockfighting activity without a valid licence or permit at an open space along Jalan Kampung Telaga Air, Jalan Matang Padawan, at about noon on July 11.
The offence, committed in furtherance of their common intention, was framed under Section 73(1)(g) of the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
The provision carries a maximum penalty of a RM2,000 fine, six months’ imprisonment, or both.
According to the facts of the case, the raid was carried out by a team from the Sarawak Police Contingent Headquarters (IPK) Criminal Investigation Department under Op Dadu, following public information on illegal cockfighting activities at the location.
During the operation, police arrested the nine local men while several others managed to flee.
Police also seized three live fighting cocks, two dead fighting cocks, a metal spur knife, a weighing scale believed to have been used for the matches as well as cash suspected to be linked to the activity.
Investigations found that the cockfighting event was conducted without any licence or approval from the relevant authorities.
All nine accused admitted in their statements that they were present at the location, knew that gambling involving live fighting cocks was taking place and had jointly participated in the illegal activity.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohammad Azeem Mohd Ridzo prosecuted the case while all nine accused were unrepresented.
