BINTULU: Police caught five gamblers playing cards in an oil palm plantation at Mile 16 here on Monday.
The suspects, aged between 27 and 65, attempted to flee the scene after noticing the presence of a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team at 4.20pm.
Bintulu district police chief Supt Zulkipli Suhaili said the police managed to arrest the suspects as they did not get far.
“Also seized in the raid were 52 playing cards and cash amounting to RM914, believed to be from the gambling activity.
“The suspects and the seized items were taken to the Bintulu CID office for further investigation under Section 7 (1) of the Common Gaming House Act 1953,” he said.
Apart from that, each suspect was issued a RM4,000 compound under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures in Infected Areas) Regulations (No 2) 2021.
Zulkipli said they had violated the movement control order standard operating procedures by gathering in a group of more than two persons in a public area without reasonable excuse and failing to practise physical distancing.
