1,035 detained for illegal gambling nationwide

KUALA LUMPUR: More than a 1,000 people, including 70 women, were detained for illegal gambling activities nationwide, said Senior Asst Comm Datuk Rohaimi Md Isa.

The Bukit Aman Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division (D7) principal assistant director said the suspects were detained in a special operation codenamed Ops Limau between Feb 1 and Feb 14 in conjunction with the Chinese New Year period.

“We detained 1,035 suspects and seized RM650,689 in cash in the 176 operations conducted around the country,” he told a press conference in Bukit Aman yesterday.

Among the illegal games identified throughout the operation were horse racing, Holo and Tau Ngau gambling, SAC Rohaimi said.

The division also uncovered a new modus operandi, whereby the syndicate would intro- duce the judi bola golek (ping-pong gambling) at shop houses in Ipoh, he said.

“Like a casino, the players will have to convert their cash into chips at a special counter and winners will change the chips for cash at the same counter.

“The syndicate even used a projector to conduct simulation gambling activities, enabling gamblers to place bets from afar. The projector is connected to a motherboard. Among the games that uses such technology are Wukong and slot machines,” SAC Rohaimi said.

He said the number of arrests was an increase compared to the same period last year, when just 584 were detained then.

“We will go all out to ensure that illegal gambling is curbed,” he said.

He attributed D7’s success to the cooperation with the public.