Raid on two online gambling call centres nets 11 suspects
KUCHING: Police arrested 11 people for allegedly working as operators of two online gambling call centres at a condominium in Jalan Lapangan Terbang at 11.50am Friday.
Kuching District police chief ACP Ahsmon Bajah told a press conference yesterday that the raid at the first unit resulted in the arrest of six female suspects aged between 19 and 25 years old.
“This (first) unit has been operating for the past seven months raking in revenue of about RM1.68 million,” said Ahsmon.
He added the figures could be more as some transaction records are believed erased.
In the second unit, police arrested five Indonesian suspects comprising three males and two females aged between 22 and 36 years old.
“A few of them have valid travel documents. However, investigations will still be carried out to determine their validity,” he said, adding the unit had been operating for the past three months, raking in about RM540,000 in revenue.
Police also seized several computer sets and telecommunication devices used to run the centres.
All the suspects will be investigated under Section 4(1)(g) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 while the foreign suspects will also be investigated under Section 51 (5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Ahsmon said the operation at the condominium yesterday was the 7th and 8th raids conducted by a special team formed to eliminate illegal gambling in Kuching.
“Their success is due to information that we received from the public as well as our own surveillance,” he added.
Ahsmon also warned residential owners not to rent their properties to any individuals running illegal activities.
“We (police) are also proposing to disconnect the electricity supply to such premises under the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953,” he added.
On the compliance level of standard operating procedures (SOP) at Tabuan Melayu and Kampung Astana which are under the Enhanced Movement Control Order, Ahsmon said he was satisfied
“Police have set up seven roadblocks each in both areas,” he added.
On the Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan, he said they were focusing on SOP compliance now that many business premises were allowed to resume operations.
“Do not blame enforcement officers if they (public) receive compound notices for breaking any of the SOPs,” said Ahsmon.