KUCHING: A woman was fined RM2,500, in default two months’ imprisonment, by the Magistrates’ Court here today (Feb 3) for engaging in online gambling in a public place.
Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan imposed the sentence on 38-year-old Maureen Simon, ordering that any custodial sentence be served from today (February 3).
Maureen pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 7(2) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.
Under the law, an offender is liable to a fine of up to RM5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both, upon conviction.
According to the facts of the case, Maureen was arrested by police during Ops Dadu at an eatery here on January 11 at 5.05 pm.
Police confiscated a mobile phone suspected to have been used to carry out online gambling activities via an application known as Epay Mobile Reload.
Investigations revealed that the accused was involved in open online gambling using her smartphone through websites or dedicated applications based on games of chance that had been downloaded onto the device.
An analysis of the seized mobile phone found that one of the gambling or betting applications contained elements of online gambling.
The prosecution was conducted by prosecuting officer Inspector Nur Shafiqa Nyaie Ilin, while Maureen was unrepresented.
