BY GABRIEL LIHAN AND MEDECCI LINEIL
KUCHING: The Sarawak Criminal Investigation Department (CCID) announced today it made a total of 43 raids involving the arrest of 54 individuals throughout the 2022 World Cup campaign, under Ops Soga IX.
All of these arrests were carried out in 16 locations in Sarawak starting from November 19 until December 21, 2022.
According to Sarawak Police Commissioner, Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri, those arrested included 42 men and 12 women including foreigners aged between 18 and 53 years.
Meanwhile, the police also confiscated cash amounting RM6,744, computers, smartphones, laptops, mobile printers, SIM cards, 20 pieces of football fixtures and 17 pieces of paper on suspicion of betting slips.
“A total of 43 investigation papers have been opened and investigated under the Open Gambling Act 1953, and out of the 43 investigation papers, 17 cases have been charged in court while the rest are still under investigation,” he said yesterday in a press conference at the Sarawak Contingent Police Headquarters, Kuching.
He added that the focus of Op Soga IX was to crack down on betting during the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
He also urged the public to report gambling activities to the D7 Sarawak hotline at 013-5253052.