KUCHING: Four South Korean men claimed trial at the Magistrate’s Court here on Sunday to charges of operating online gambling machines using computers early this month.
The foreigners, aged between 27 and 28, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read separately before three magistrates.
Magistrate Nursyaheeqa Nazwa Radzali, Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan and Magistrate Mason Jaro Lenya Barayan each allowed bail of RM3,000 for the four accused, with two local sureties.
The court also ordered all four men to surrender their passports to the court until the case is resolved.
A mention date was fixed on Mar 5 for case management.
According to the charge sheets, the men is alleged to have operated online gambling machines using computers at a luxury condominium along Jalan Tun Datuk Patinggi Haji Ahmad Zaidi Adruce at around 2 pm on Jan 7.
The charges were framed under Section 4B(a) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, which carries a fine up to RM100,000 for each gambling machine seized, or imprisonment of up to five years, or both, upon conviction.
The prosecution was conducted separately by Deputy Public Prosecutors Muhammad Aidil Akmal Sharidan and Afiq Safly Nor Kazly, as well as prosecuting officer Inspector Nur Shafiqa Nyaie Ilin.
All four foreigners were represented by counsel Yong Suk Hui.
