Cockfighting octogenarian among 30 nabbed in raid

MUKAH (Aug 27): Thirty individuals were rounded during a police raid on an illegal cockfighting pit in an oil palm plantation along Jalan Balingian-Mukah on Sunday.

Mukah police chief DSP Muhamad Rizal Alias said the suspects, aged between 25 and 81, comprised 28 men and two women.

“The 3pm raid was a joint effort between the Sarawak Criminal Investigation Department and Mukah district police headquarters, based on information about illegal cockfighting and gambling activities taking place at the location.

“Despite the attempts of several individuals to escape, the raiding party was able to apprehend all of those involved,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Muhamad Rizal said seized at the location were cash amounting to RM42,090, 18 live cockerels, two dead cockerels, two cockfighting spurs, a weighing scale, and gambling paraphernalia.

He added that the suspects were remanded yesterday under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code for further investigation.

The case is being investigated under Section 73(1)(g) of the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999, and Section 6(1) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.

In addition, one of the suspects arrested – a foreigner – is being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 after he was unable to produce valid travel documents.