KUCHING: A 68-year-old elderly man was fined RM1,600, in default one month’s imprisonment, by the Magistrates’ Court here today for gambling online at a shop in Kenyalang Park Commercial Centre.
Chan Long Cheong pleaded guilty before Magistrate Nursyaheeqa Nazwa Radzali after the charge was read to him.
He was charged under Section 7(2) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 for gaming in a public place using a Huawei mobile phone.
The offence under Section 7(2) carries a fine of up to RM5,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both, upon conviction.
The offence was committed at about 1:55 pm on August 11 at a mart in Kenyalang Park Commercial Centre, Jalan Datuk Sim Kheng Hong here.
According to the facts of the case, police from the Kuching District Police Headquarters’ Criminal Investigation Division raided the premises and arrested the accused for allegedly engaging in online gambling.
A Huawei mobile phone was seized from the accused during the operations.
Investigations found that the device had been used by the accused to participate in an online gambling game, with the outcome depending mainly on chance rather than any particular skill or technique.
The accused had also handed the mobile phone to the police officers during the seizure.
The court was told that the gambling activity took place at the shop, a location accessible to members of the public.
The accused, who was unrepresented, was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor, Muhammad Aidil Akmal Sharidan.
