Three Muslims caught buying lottery tickets

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TAWAU: The Sabah Islamic Affairs Department (Jheains) caught three Muslim men buying lottery tickets during an operation in conjunction with the coming Ramadan month.

They also detained a tomboy and her girlfriend for indecent behavior in public and caught two restaurants using photo-stated copies of the Halal certificate.

Jheains chief Abdul Imam Kassim said the three men, aged between 40 and 60, were caught buying lottery tickets at two betting outlets in the old town area and Fajar Complex.

He said Islam prohibited gambling among its followers and under Section 90 of the Syariah Crime Offence Enactment, Muslims who were caught gambling could be fined RM3,000 or jailed one year, or both.

During the operation, conducted with the help of the Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) enforcement team, they also caught the tomboy with her girlfriend who were behaving indecently at the coastal highway.

The two, aged 16 and 17, were hugging each other and they would be given counseling as what they did was wrong.    Under Section 83 of the Syariah Crime Offence Enactment, they could be fined RM1,000, jailed six months, or both, he said.

Abdul Imam said Jheains would be conducting several operations before Ramadan and would be on standby during the fasting month with patrolling conducted at least twice a week.