Indonesian woman gets jail term, RM20,000 fine for illegal football betting

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By Dorcas Ting

KUCHING, June 25: An Indonesian woman was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment and fined RM20,000 by the Magistrate’s Court here today after admitting to her role in an illegal football betting syndicate that capitalised on interest surrounding the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 31-year-old pleaded guilty before Magistrate Leona Mojiliu Dominic to assisting in the operation of unlawful football betting activities.

The court also ordered her to serve an additional six months in jail if she fails to pay the fine.

The offence was committed at about 2.30pm on June 18 at a commercial premises in City Square, Pending, where she was found facilitating football betting transactions.

She was charged under Section 4A(a) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, which carries a fine of between RM20,000 and RM200,000 and a prison term of up to five years upon conviction.

According to the prosecution, the woman was arrested during a police operation under Op Soga targeting illegal gambling activities. Investigations revealed that she was acting as an agent for an unlicensed bookmaker accepting bets on FIFA World Cup 2026 matches.

Police seized a mobile phone, portable printer, betting slips, a receipt stamp and RM725 in cash during the raid.

Examination of the confiscated items later confirmed their connection to unauthorised online football betting activities prohibited under Malaysian law.

Further investigations found that the woman, from Entikong, Indonesia, was also residing in Malaysia without valid travel documents.

Checks with the Immigration Department revealed no official record of her entry into or departure from the country, leading to a separate immigration charge.

She subsequently pleaded guilty before the Sessions Court to an offence under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963.

For that offence, Sessions Court Judge Musli Ab Hamid sentenced her to six months’ imprisonment.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Chuah Kai Sheng prosecuted the gambling case, while Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Fauzulutfi Suriani appeared for the immigration proceedings. The accused was unrepresented in both cases. — DayakDaily