Online gambling: 14 Chinese nationals among 17 held
KUALA LUMPUR: The Immigration Department busted an online gambling syndicate by arresting 17 individuals at premises in Jalan Kerinchi, Bangsar here Tuesday.
Those arrested in the 11pm operation comprised 14 Chinese men and three local men in their 20s and 30s.
Immigration director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said that the operation was carried out based on public tip-offs and intelligence gathered over a month.
He said that the department personnel had to break down the entrance to the premises after the occupants refused to cooperate.
“We found 14 Chinese nationals running online gambling activities targeting customers from Brazil,” he said in a special press conference here yesterday.
Ruslin said that all of the Chinese suspects failed to produce valid identification and travel documents, believed to be still held by the syndicate.
Meanwhile, the three local men, believed to be caretakers of the syndicate’s premises, were arrested to assist the investigation.
He said that the team also seized 16 laptops, 10 computer screens, 45 mobile phones and two tablets, ICT equipment and utility bills for the premises.
“All the immigrants were arrested under the Immigration Act 1959/63, Passport Act 1966, and Immigration Regulations 1963, and were taken to the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department for further action,” he said.
He reiterated that the Immigration Department will not compromise on any party which tries to commit any offence under the Immigration Act and Passport Act, especially Malaysians who try to conspire to protect illegal immigrants.