Police nab two women in Selangau raids under ‘Op Dadu’

MUKAH (March 4): Police arrested two local women in separate raids in Selangau yesterday on suspicion of involvement in online gambling and illegal public lottery activities.

In a statement today, Mukah police chief DSP Muhamad Rizal Alias said the arrests were made during ‘Op Dadu’ conducted by the Criminal Investigation Division of Mukah District Police Headquarters (IPD).

“In the first raid at about 2.50pm, a team of officers raided a sundry shop near a petrol station in Selangau town and detained a 34-year-old local woman suspected of being involved in online gambling activities.

“Checks at the counter led to the seizure of a smartphone with access to the website ‘trich88.com’, believed to have been used for online gambling activities,” he said, adding that police also confiscated RM105 in cash.

The suspect was taken to IPD Mukah for further action and her urine test returned negative for drugs.

The case is being investigated under Section 4(1)(c) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, which carries a fine of between RM5,000 and RM50,000 and imprisonment of up to three years upon conviction.

In the second raid at about 3.40pm at another sundry shop in the Selangau New Market area, police detained another 34-year-old local woman suspected of conducting illegal public lottery activities.

“During an inspection at the counter, the team found a smartphone with an application believed to have been used for illegal public lottery transactions without a licence,” he said.

Other items seized included a printer, white papers, a pencil and RM92 in cash. The suspect was also taken to IPD Mukah for further investigation and tested negative for drugs.

The case is being investigated under Section 4B(a) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, which provides for a fine of between RM10,000 and RM100,000 or imprisonment of up to five years upon conviction.

Muhamad Rizal stressed that operations will continue to curb illegal gambling activities in the district and urged the public to provide information to assist enforcement efforts.