Identity kept strictly confidential, Sarawak CID chief assures informants

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Leong (second left) together with (from left) Sibu police chief ACP Stanley Jonathan Ringgit, Sibu deputy police chief Supt Martin Koo, and Sibu CID chief DSP Benedict Faris Jimoy during the press conference.

SIBU: Informants who assist police on criminal activities such as illegal gambling have been assured that their identity will be kept strictly confidential.

The assurance was given by Sarawak CID chief SAC Denis Leong, after he revealed that many who channelled information to police on such activities were hesitant or even unwilling to provide their personal particulars.

“They are reluctant to give us information such as their name and contact number when we ask for it.

We need the informant’s phone number because when we are on the ground and we cannot get the exact location where crime is said to have occurred or is occurring, we need to get back to them to get more details.

“Informants can rest assured that their identity will be kept strictly confidential,” he said during a press conference here yesterday.

He disclosed that as of Nov 13, the police have received a total of 1,234 pieces of information regarding illegal gambling, of which 993 resulted in arrests and seizures.

“So far, all of those people who gave the information are still very healthy and nothing has happened to them. So there is no need to worry about giving us your name,” he added.

He also urged the public to continue providing information to the police on illegal gambling activities should they come across one.

On the war against illegal lottery operators, Leong said the police are engaging with legal lottery operators to create a better working relationship to find ways to assist each other.

“We want to foster similar rapport with the public,” he said.

The Sarawak CID hotline for those with information on illegal gambling activities is 082-274213.