KUCHING: The Magistrates’ Court here fined a man RM10,700 for operating an online gambling machine and purchasing unlicensed lottery tickets.
Failure to pay the fine will result in a four-month and two-week prison sentence.
Azizan, 35, pleaded guilty to two charges read before different magistrates.
For the first charge, he was charged under Section 4B (a) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 for operating a gambling machine using a mobile phone at an eatery along Jalan Matang around 3.55pm on Sept 1.
Magistrate Mason Jaro Lenya Barayan fined Azizan RM10,000, in default four months in prison.
For the second charge, he was charged under Section 9(1) of the same Act for purchasing illegal lottery tickets in a premises at Jalan Pending around 2.30pm on March 18.
Magistrate Syarifah Fatimah Azura Wan Alwi fined him RM700, in default two weeks in prison, for the second charge.
Based on the case facts, a team from Padawan Criminal Investigation Division (CID) raided an eatery and arrested Azizan for allegedly operating an online gambling machine using a smartphone.
Police also seized his phone and other items used for the online gambling activities.
A gambling expert’s report confirmed that the confiscated phone was indeed used for gambling.
In addition, Azizan was previously arrested by police in connection with the purchase of illegal public lottery tickets at a premises in Jalan Pending on March 18.
ASP Suziana Suleiman and ASP Arman Ibrahim prosecuted the cases respectively while Azizan was unrepresented by counsel.
