Woman fined for possessing illegal gambling equipment

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KOTA KINABALU: The Magistrate’s Court here yesterday fined a local woman RM2,500, in default, two months’ jail for possession of illegal gambling equipment.

Magistrate Cindy Mc Juce Balitus meted out the sentence on Chong Chee Fong @ Catherine Chong, 48, after she pleaded guilty to the charge framed under Section 9(1) of the Common House Gambling Act which carries a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or a jail term not exceeding six months, or both, if convicted.

Prosecuting officer Inspector Azaman Hamat informed the court that the police arrested the accused at a coffee house in Damai about 3.20pm on February 13 after receiving a tip-off.

The police seized from her two pieces of paper, a Nokia handphone containing what is believed to be illegal four-digit lottery numbers and cash.

The court ordered the confiscated cash to be handed over to the Treasury Department.

Meanwhile, a man was jailed for five months from the date of arrest for stealing three garbage cans worth about RM250.

Sepin Minser pleaded guilty before magistrate Cindy Mc Juce Balitus to a charge framed under Section 379 of the Penal Code which is punishable with imprisonment and shall also be liable to a fine or whipping.

The accused was alleged to have committed the offence at a shop in City Mall, Luyang about 7pm on March 11.

According to the facts of the case, Sepin was seen wheeling away the trash cans by the complainant, who subsequently stopped the accused and lodged a police report.