Five Indonesians, one Filipino fined for illegal online gambling activities

KUCHING: Five Indonesian citizens and one Filipino citizen were each fined RM20,000 or sentenced to five months in prison for their involvement in managing online gambling activities using two sets of computers on July 15.

The accused, aged between 23 and 44, pleaded guilty to a charge read collectively before Magistrate Syarifah Fatimah Azura Wan Ali.

According to the charge, they were jointly accused of operating gambling machines using two sets of computers in an apartment in Jalan Stapok, around 8.15pm on July 15.

Thus, the accused were charged under Section 4B(a) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, which carries a fine of not less than RM10,000 or not more than RM100,000 for each gambling machine and imprisonment of up to five years if convicted.

According to the facts of the case, a raid was conducted by a team of police from the D7 Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department of IPK Sarawak in an apartment residence on July 15, around 8.15pm.

The raid led to the arrest of three men and three women along with equipment used, such as two sets of computers believed to be online gambling machines.

The case items were then sent for analysis, and a gambling expert confirmed that both sets of computers were used as gambling machines.

The prosecution of the case was handled by prosecuting officer ASP Arman Ibrahim while all the accused were represented by lawyer Ralph Lee Zhen Jie.