Cops want freeze on entertainment licences
KUCHING: The Ministry of Local Government and Housing has been called on to encourage all local councils to freeze the issuance of new entertainment licences.
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Sarawak head SAC Datuk Dev Kumar praised Padawan Municipal Council’s ( MPP) move to revoke the licences of four family entertainment centres for suspicion of promoting illegal gambling as exemplary.
“We hope the local councils in other districts will follow suit by revoking the licenses of family entertainment centres,” Dev Kumar said in a statement yesterday.
He said police intensified efforts to battle illegal gambling in Sarawak last month with raids conducted on all forms of illegal gambling in 16 districts.
From May 1- 31, 81 successful raids were conducted resulting in the arrests of 163 individuals (120 men, 43 women) aged between 18 and 70, which included 16 foreigners.
A total of 63 raids were against illegal 4D, 13 raids against cyber gambling, two raids each against cockfighting and gambling in a public place; and one raid against gambling in a common gaming
We hope the local councils in other districts will follow suit by revoking the licences of family entertainment centres. SAC Datuk Dev Kumar, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Sarawak head
house.
The raids were conducted in Kuching ( 21), Padawan (12), Miri ( 9), Sibu ( 6), Sri Aman ( 6), Kota Samarahan ( 5), Sarikei ( 5), Limbang ( 5), Bintulu ( 3), Serian (2), Meradong (2), Bau (1), Mukah (1), Marudi (1), Julau (1) and Saratok (1).
The state CID conducted 22 of the 81 raids. Meanwhile, 63 raids against illegal 4D resulted in the arrests of 74 individuals and seizure of RM19,675, with 21 raids conducted in Kuching and 11 in Padawan.
Mobile phones, portable printers, calculators, betting slips and various stationery related to illegal 4D were seized. Apart from illegal 4D, 13 raids were also conducted at premises suspected to be cyber gambling outlets.
“These raids resulted in the arrests of 46 individuals and seizure of 115 computers, tablets and gambling machines (fish machines). RM6,912 was also seized from the counters in the premises,” said Dev Kumar.
Five of the raids were conducted in Miri, while two each were conducted in Bintulu, Limbang, Sri Aman and Kota Samarahan.
Also raided were two cockfighting pits in Padawan and Marudi, which resulted in the arrests of 28 individuals and the seizure of various paraphernalia used for gambling, including live and dead cockerels.
Dev Kumar said the police will act on all public complaints and information as part of their longstanding and total commitment to eradicate illegal gambling in the state.
“We assure the public that we will continue to take action with the assistance of local councils,” he said. Apart from illegal gambling, Dev Kumar said the police are also focusing on eradicating prostitution in Sarawak.
“For vice, the targets were massage parlours, reflexology centres, pubs and budget hotels suspected of employing foreign prostitutes,” he said.
From May 1- 31, state police conducted 14 raids that resulted in the arrests of 59 women suspected to have been employed as prostitutes – Vietnamese ( 26), Indonesian (17), Chinese nationals ( 9), Thais ( 2), and Malaysians (five).
Five of the raids were conducted in Kuching, Sibu ( 5), Miri ( 2), Bintulu (1) and Padawan (1). Six raids were conducted at reflexology centres, five at pubs, two at KTV lounges and one at a budget hotel.
“Various items relating to sexual activities were also seized in the premises raided. Those arrested were investigated for various offences under the Penal Code and Immigration Act,” Dev Kumar added.