SIBU: Sixty-four gamblers were arrested this year as police set out to crush organised cock fights this year.
GAME OVER: The suspect looks on as Crime Prevention Unit personnel inspect the false licence plate.
Sibu police chief ACP Shafie Ismail said yesterday although their efforts had been met with obstacles set up by the organisers, they had broken through their sentries to arrest these gamblers.
However, he did not identify any of these detainees as the organisers.
“The gamblers are mostly charged in court. We shall not hesitate to act tough,” said the police chief, adding that he was looking forward to 2010 for a tighter grip on social ills.
In the reports of The Borneo Post yesterday, Shafie vowed to kick out these organisers next year using the Emergency Ordinance.
He said yesterday that they had succeeded in six operations and failed in five.
“The organisers had carefully planned their activities by setting up sentries to watch over the police, so that when they saw the police coming, the organisers and the gamblers would disperse in time.”
He said in the successful raids, the police had seized enough evidence to charge the gamblers.
“We seized both live and dead cocks and the spurs. We also seized betting money,” he added.
Shafie said these dens were all stationed in the remote areas accessed by a single-lane road, which made it easy to watch out for the police.
He said the illegal gambling activities were hosted by syndicates.
“The successful raids were launched in Rantau Panjang, Bukit Penyau in Salim, Pasai Siong, Jalan Teku, Jalan Ding Lik Kwong and Jalan Bukit Aup.”
According to him, police have already kicked out 10 men this year, all gang members, except for one Ah Long (illegal money lender).
Under the ordinance, the police would normally detain a criminal for 60 days while awaiting an order from the Home Ministry to either put him in Simpang Renggam Detention Centre or in restricted residence for up to two years.
Shafie said: “We will not tolerate this crime. We know illegal cockfighting is common in the town’s outskirts and we cannot close an eye to it.”