Four Korean nationals charged in Kuching over illegal gaming machines

KUCHING (Jan 16): Four Korean nationals were charged at the Magistrates’ Court here for dealing with illegal gaming machines, an offence under the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.

Assistant Registrar of the Subordinate Court, Salina Sahrom, refused bail for all four men, two are aged 27 and the other two aged 28.

The accused are Im Sung Hyun, 27, Kim Jihoo, 27, Jung Seung Hyun, 28, and Kim Jungu, 28.

No plea was recorded during the proceedings, and the court has fixed Jan 19 for the charges to be read again and for pleas to be entered.

Under Section 4B(a) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, the four individuals are alleged to have dealt with a gaming machine each, described as a computer set, at the Ryujin Industries Sdn Bhd on the second floor of The Podium condominium complex along Jalan Tun Datuk Patinggi Haji Ahmad Zaidi Adruce at around 2pm on Jan 7.

The law carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and a fine of between RM10,000 and RM100,000 for each gaming machine seized, upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Aidil Akmal Sharidan represented the prosecution, while all four accused were defended by counsel Yong Suk Hui.