KUCHING: State police conducted 17 raids against illegal gambling and arrested 37 individuals last week (8 to 14 May).
Sarawak Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief, SAC Dato’ Dev Kumar Sree Shumungam said of the 17 raids, fourteen were against illegal 4D, cyber gambling (1), cock-fighting (1) and playing ‘holo’ (1).
The raids were conducted by teams from CID HQ and district CID units.
There were four raids conducted by CID Headquarters, namely in Kuching and Padawan. Other than that CID Sri Aman conducted four raids, CID Sibu two raids; two raids by CID Limbang; one raid each by CID Bintulu, CID Padawan, CID Miri, CID Kuching and CID Kota Samarahan.
The 14 raids on illegal 4D sellers resulted in the arrests of 15 individuals and seizure of cash amounting to RM3,476. Mobile phones, portable printers, betting slips, calculators and stationeries were also seized.
A raid on cyber gambling was conducted in Sri Aman resulted in the arrest of three people and the seizure of 11 computers and tablets.
In Limbang, four individuals were arrested for playing “holo” in a public place.
Apart from illegal 4D, cyber gambling and playing ‘holo’, a raid was conducted at a cock-fighting pit at Jalan Matang, Padawan that resulted in the arrests of 17 individuals, including a 14-year-old school dropout, and seizure of various gambling paraphernalia.
As for the 39 arrested, 31 were males while the rest were females. They were aged between 14 and 59 years old.
All those arrested are being investigated for offences under the Common Gaming House Act, 1953 and Prevention to Cruelty of Animals Ordinance, 1962.
Dev Kumar said the operation against illegal gambling in the state would be ongoing.
