TAWAU: The High Court here yesterday affirmed a local woman’s three months’ jail and RM20,000 fine, in default, six months’ jail for accepting bets from punters during the European Football Championship (EURO) matches in 2008.
Justice John Lo made the decision after dismissing Chang Yin Yin’s appeal against her sentence imposed by the Magistrate’s Court here in April last year.
Chang, 38, who was represented by counsel Esther Pang, had pleaded guilty before magistrate Edward Paul on April 28 last year to a charge under Section 6(3) of the Betting Act 1953 of being a bookie by receiving bets for the EURO 2008 matches.
The offence is punishable by a minimum fine of RM20,000 and a maximum of RM200,000 and a jail term of up to five years.
She committed the offence at the Champion Restaurant at Mile 3.5, Apas Road here about 4.45pm on June 26, 2008.
Police seized from her four receipt books, a small notebook, 63 pieces of papers written with the names of countries participating in the EURO Championship, a calculator, two pens, a piece of carbon paper and RM305 in cash.
On May 10, last year Chang filed an appeal to the High Court on the grounds that the sentence meted out by the Magistrate’s Court was too heavy.
After hearing submissions from Pang and deputy public prosecutor Shukor Abu Bakar yesterday, Lo dismissed Chang’s appeal for a reduction of her sentence given the seriousness of the offence and her intention to promote illegal gambling in the country.
In affirming the sentence imposed, Lo said the lower court had taken public interest into consideration.
“The sentence imposed by the lower court was appropriate and should serve as a lesson to the public,” said Lo.
He however granted a stay of execution of the sentence after allowing a motion by Pang who informed the court of her client’s wish to appeal to the Court of Appeal.
Lo ordered Chang to file her appeal within 14 days and set bail at RM5,000 and to surrender her international passport.
Lo also directed Chang to report herself to the police station once every two weeks as part of the condition of the bail pending disposal of her appeal.