Police thank public for gambling leads, keep them coming

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A policeman questions a mobile phone kiosk operator suspected of involvement in illegal gambling activities.

KUCHING: The police have extended their gratitude to members of the public for channeling information on illegal gambling activities to the Special Operations Room at Sarawak police headquarters here.

Sarawak CID chief SAC Denis Leong said following the setting-up of the round-the-clock operations room on July 21, a total of 25 leads on gambling activities were received.

“Of the 25 tip-offs received, 23 were precise and resulted in arrests and seizures. The remaining two leads are still in the process of verification.

“We are indeed very thankful for the information given and urge members of the public to continue informing us of gambling activities via our hotline 082-274213,” he said in a statement yesterday.

He also advised callers to indicate if the information given to police is current, belated or hearsay, to enable more effective action to be taken.

In total, Leong disclosed police carried out 67 gambling raids across Sarawak from July 23 to July 29.

He said the raids saw the arrest of 99 individuals in Kuching, Padawan, Sibu, Miri, Bintulu, Kota Samarahan, Bau, Limbang, Meradong, Serian, Sarikei, Kapit, Saratok, Sri Aman, Lawas, Matu Daro, Lundu and Song.

“Those arrested comprised 73 males and 26 females, aged between 16 and 63 years. We also seized 22 mobile phones/tablets, betting slips and cash amounting to RM16,559,” he added.

According to Leong, the raids involved the sale of illegal lottery (50), online gambling (12), gambling in public (3), illegal cockfighting (1) as well as gambling in a common gaming house (1).

He said all those arrested are being investigated under the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance.