KUCHING: A man was fined RM10,000, in default six months and one day’s imprisonment by the Magistrates’ Court here on Thursday (May 21) for dealing with an online gambling machine using a mobile phone.
Magistrate Leona Dominic Mojiliu imposed the fine on Syed Fazilah Wan Sahak, 41, after he pleaded guilty to the charge under Section 4B(a) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.
The offence provides for a fine of between RM10,000 and RM100,000 for every gaming machine seized, and imprisonment of up to five years upon conviction.
According to the charge, Syed Fazilah was found dealing with a gaming machine, namely a Vivo mobile phone, at about 2pm on April 29 in front of a cafe near Muara Tebas Land District, Demak Laut here.
Facts of the case revealed that a police raid under “Op Dadu” was conducted by a team from the Gita police station at the premises following suspicion of online gambling activities.
During the operation, police arrested the accused and seized a Vivo mobile phone believed to have been used for online gambling activities through the “918KISS” app.
Investigations found that the gambling activities were based on games of chance and did not require any special skills.
Players reportedly purchased points or credits from organisers at the rate of RM1 per point before using them in various gambling games available on the app.
Winning points could later be exchanged back with organisers for cash rewards.
A forensic analysis conducted on the seized mobile phone confirmed the presence of elements linked to online gambling activities through the 918KISS app, leading to the charge against the accused.
The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Fauzulutfi Suriani while Syed Fazilah was unrepresented.
