Police arrest four for promoting public gaming
Posted: 11 June 2012 2134 hrs
SINGAPORE: Police arrested a 59-year-old male Chinese and three Chinese youths aged between 15 and 16 for promoting public gaming on Sunday.
Officers from Central Police Division were conducting anti-crime operations in Desker Road at about 8pm when they spotted a make-shift stall at the back lane, with a group of people crowding around a table.
On close observation, the group was seen engaging in a game of chance.
The game involves using a dice holder to toss a dice with three sides painted in blue and the remaining three sides painted in red.
Players will place bets on either one of the colours.
However, in most instances, the dice will be modified to allow the illegal gaming operator to determine the outcome of the game at his will to maximise the winnings.
The officers moved in swiftly and arrested the four suspects.
Gaming paraphernalia, which included the dice holder, a make-shift table and cash amounting to S$380, were seized as case exhibits.
Preliminary investigations revealed that one of the youths was the game operator, while the second youth posed as a player to attract the attention of passers-by to place bets on the game. The third youth and the 59-year-old acted as look-outs.
All four suspects have been released on bail pending investigations.
If found guilty, they face a fine of not less than S$20,000 and not more than S$200,000 and a jail term of up to five years.
As for the players, any person convicted of gaming in public shall be liable to a fine of up to S$5,000, or a jail term of up to six months, or both.
- CNA/fa