KUCHING: An Indonesian man was sentenced to a fine of RM10,000 in default of four months in jail by the Magistrate’s Court here today for his involvement in online gambling ticket sales via a smartphone last Saturday.
Lay Deni, 36, from Sambas, Indonesia pleaded guilty to one charge read by an interpreter before Magistrate Mason Jaro Lenya Barayan.
According to the charge, he was accused of operating a gambling machine using a mobile phone in a hut in Kampung Tabuan Dani, at around 12.05 pm on October 14.
As a result, the accused was charged under Section 4B (a) of the ARJT 1953, which carries a maximum fine of RM10,000 for each gambling machine and a prison term not exceeding five years upon conviction.
Based on the facts of the case, a police team from the Criminal Investigation Division of Kuching District Police headquarters (IPD) conducted a raid on a hut after suspecting online gambling activity using an application on a smartphone and apprehended a foreign man who was selling online gambling top-up tickets.
Items related to the case were seized, including a smartphone and a total of RM104 in cash.
Results of the investigation and expert reports confirmed that the confiscated smartphone was used as a gambling machine, as stated under the interpretation of the Open Gambling House Act (ARJT) 1953.
The prosecution of the case was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Merylene Lindan Andrew Mang, while the accused was not represented by a counsel.
