Kota Kinabalu: Two men were fined a total of RM3,000 by the Magistrate’s Court here Tuesday for engaging in online gambling activity, eight months ago.
Unemployed Sarkawi Sariul, 37, and self-employed Mohd Jali Madlamni, 29, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Jessica Ombou Kakayun to committing the offence by using handphones at 9.40pm on March 4 in front of Jannath Curry House in Manggatal town.
They were each ordered to pay a fine of RM1,500 or two month’s jail.
Inspector Albert Basiri, prosecuting, told the court that police acting on information went to the said premises suspected of involvement in gambling activity.
Investigations revealed that two men, later identified as Sarkawi and Jali were detained for their involvement in top-up online gambling.
The police seized the gambling paraphernalia from both men including RM65 from Sarkawi, the court heard.
Represented by counsel Lim Ming Zoong @ Lawrence, both Sarkawi and Jali requested for a lenient sentence.
Lim said Sarkawi was unemployed and married with 17 children from two wives and that he used to work as a vegetable supplier and was the sole breadwinner of his family.
On the other hand, Lim said that Jali works at a school canteen.
The prosecution applied for an adequate sentence.
Sarkawi and Jali were charged under Section 7(1) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, which provides for a fine of up to RM5,000 or up to six month’s jail or both on conviction.
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