Illegal gambling: 5,590 individuals arrested, 9,817 items seized - Bukit Aman

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 -- The police have arrested 5,590 individuals as well as confiscated 9,817 electronic devices and cash estimated to be worth RM1.04 million related to illegal gambling from January to July this year.

Bukit Aman CID director Datuk Huzir Mohamed said all the arrests and seizures were made in 3,015 raids nationwide.

He said for the whole of last year, a total of 10,303 individuals were detained and various seizures made worth RM1.3 million.

"A total of 61 gambling syndicates have been crippled so far this year compared to only 32 last year.

"Police also took action against 372 individuals under the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (POCA) last year, while a total of 185 individuals have been detained under the same Act this year," he said in a statement today.

Huzir said the authorities would also increase efforts to curb such activities by cutting off the electricity supply to the gambling premises concerned.

"Last year, 461 premises had their electricity supply cut off, with 518 premises involved this year as of July, in line with the provisions under Section 21A of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953," he said.

He said the police were also working with the local authorities to revoke the business licences of premises conducting illegal gambling activities throughout the country.

"Last year, a total of two business licences were revoked by local authorities while this year, four licenses have been revoked (so far)," he said, adding that local authorities should look at sealing illegal gambling premises based on the provisions of the law.

-- BERNAMA