PAKAN, Sarawak: A 55-year-old man was arrested by police yesterday afternoon for allegedly running illegal public lottery operations at a shop in Pakan.
According to Julau District Police Chief, DSP Alif Haiqal Ramesh Abdullah, the arrest was made around 3.00pm during a routine Op Dadu inspection at a shop located on Jalan Babai, an area reportedly involved in gambling activities.
“The police officer leading the operation, together with his team, introduced themselves to the man on the premises. Subsequent inspection revealed several items believed to be connected with illegal public lottery sales activities,” DSP Alif Haiqal said in a statement last night.
Authorities seized multiple items from the suspect, including a Redmi 13C mobile phone, a black unbranded mobile printer unit, and a small piece of printed paper containing numbers suspected to be from an illegal cloud lottery. In addition, mixed cash totaling RM30 was confiscated during the operation.
The suspect, along with the seized items, was taken to the Julau District Police Headquarters (IPD) for further investigation.
“This case is being investigated under Section 4A(a) of the Open Gambling Houses Act 1953,” DSP Alif Haiqal confirmed, emphasizing the police’s ongoing efforts to curb illegal gambling activities in the district.
The operation forms part of a broader initiative by Julau police to crack down on unlawful gambling, which has been a growing concern in rural areas. Authorities reminded members of the public to report any suspicious activities related to gambling to assist in maintaining community safety and law enforcement.
This incident highlights the continuing vigilance of local police forces in combating illegal gambling, protecting the public from associated criminal activities, and ensuring adherence to national laws.
