KUCHING: A 29-year-old man was fined RM2,800, or in default three months’ imprisonment, by the Magistrates’ Court here today (Apr 23) for engaging in online gambling in early March.
Magistrate Leona Dominic Mojiliu handed down the sentence on Awie Ahmad after Awie pleaded guilty to the charge under Section 7(2) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.
Under Section 7(2) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, the offence 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, the offence took place on March 9 at 8:35 pm at a café near Jalan Matang, Batu Kawa.
A police team from the Padawan District Police Headquarters’ (IPD) task force conducted operations codenamed ‘Ops Dadu’ at the premises to detect gambling activities.
After about 20 minutes of observation, officers approached the accused, who was seated at a table inside the café.
Upon inspection, police found a grey ZTE Blade A52 Lite mobile phone containing elements of online gambling.
The accused was then arrested and brought to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) office at Kota Sentosa Police Station for further action.
Police also seized the mobile phone, a piece of paper containing login details, and RM47 in cash believed to be linked to the gambling activity.
Investigations revealed that the accused admitted to being at the location and participating in online gambling using the mobile phone at the time of the raid.
Prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor, Muhammad Aidil Akmal Sharidan.
Awie was unrepresented.
