Tuesday August 31, 2010
Illegal 4-D ring busted
By M. SIVANANTHA SHARMA
[email protected]
NIBONG TEBAL: An illegal four-digit betting syndicate which operated in a shophouse in Taman Tambun in Simpang Ampat here under the guise of a prawn supplying company was busted by the police. The syndicate is believed to be raking in almost RM2.4mil per month and is believed to be the biggest in the northern region based on the amount of bets accepted. The raid was carried out on Sunday at 6.50pm by Bukit Aman police and South Seberang Prai police after a two-week surveillance following a tip-off.
Seized: Supt Maszely Minhad (left) showing the seized computer of the illegal 4-digit ring during the raid at the shophouses in Taman Tambun Indah in Nibong Tebal yesterday.
Bukit Aman Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies (D7) operations chief Supt Maszely Minhad said they detained two women aged 26 and 33, who were busy accepting bets through fax machines and short message service (SMS).
“Initial investigations revealed the syndicate had been active here for more than two years,” he told a press conference here yesterday. He said the syndicate was believed to have been receiving bets from punters in Kedah, Perak, Negri Sembilan and Johor through their agents.
Supt Maszely said police seized four computer sets, two fax machines, two printers, four cellular phones, three broadband modems and several other equipment. He said they were investigating the owner of the premises and other individuals who are involved in the syndicate.
Supt Maszely said the case will be investigated under Section 4A(a) of the Open Gambling House Act 1953, which carries the sentence of a fine of not less than RM20,000 and not more than RM200,000 and not more than five years’ imprisonment.
