KOTA KINABALU: Twenty-three people, including two women, were detained by police for involvement in illegal gambling.
City police chief ACP Ahmad Sofi Zakaria said in the first case on Jan 13 around 12.05am, a team of police from the Crime Investigation Department (D7 unit) raided a place at Borneon Centre in Luyang, here and detained seven men, including the building caretaker.
“Police also confiscated 18 computer sets and RM118 cash during the raid,” he told reporters at a press conference at the Karamunsing police station here yesterday.
In the second raid on Jan 16, 11 men were apprehended by police for involvement in illegal gambling at Milinium Centre in Jalan Lintas, Kepayan.
Sofi said police also seized 15 computer monitors, 14 CPUs, 12 computer keyboards, 12 computer mouses, 14 gambling machines and RM962 cash.
“In the third raid on Jan 22, police from the D7 unit arrested three men, including the caretaker at Kepayan Commercial Centre in Kepayan for involvement in illegal gambling,” said Sofi, adding that six slot machines and five computer sets were confiscated by the police.
Meanwhile, on Jan 25 around 11.30pm, police arrested two women and seized nine slot machines, 12 computer sets, RM20 cash and other items during a raid at Sri Kepayan Commercial Centre.
“The suspects, aged between 20 and 40, will be investigated under Section 4 B (a) of the Common Gaming House 1953,” said Sofi.
Under the provision, the offence carries a fine of between RM20,000 and RM200,000 or five years’ jail on conviction.
Sofi said police would continue to monitor and curb illegal gambling activities and thanked the public for providing valuable information.