SIBU: A 72-year-old man was among six gamblers arrested for playing mahjong at a premises last Sunday (July 11).
District deputy police chief Supt Collin Babat said acting upon information, a Sibu police team raided a premises at Jalan Wong Nai Siong around 3pm.
Prior to the raid, the team had to cut off the electricity supply at the place.
“The premises had previously been raided twice last year and twice this year. Aside from that, a compound was also issued earlier this month for carrying out the same gambling activity.
“Six men including the premises caretaker, aged between 53 and 72, were arrested for playing mahjong,” he said.
The six men who were arrested by Sibu police for playing mahjong last Sunday. 
Collin pointed out that the suspects had also violated the standard operating procedures (SOPs) of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) by gathering and by not practising physical distancing.
Also seized in the raid were tables, chairs, various coloured and value chips, mahjong pieces and dices.
The suspects and the items seized were taken to the police station for compounding actions.
Collin revealed that a RM20,000 compound was issued to the premises caretaker while the others were fined RM4,000 each.
He added that all the suspects also underwent the Covid-19 swab test at the Sibu Hospital. The results were negative.
