Kota Kinabalu: Five people were fined a total of RM6,700 by the Magistrate’s Court here Tuesday for engaging in gambling sessions.
Asmawati Abtoh, 31, Anastasia Clara, 22, Nur Aslisah Tung, 24, Wellfred Fadiles, 21, and Nancye Yuesri, 25, pleaded guilty separately before Magistrate Lovely Natasha Charles to committing the offences between June 16, 2021 and Oct 24 the same year.
Asmawati was ordered to pay a fine of RM1,500 or three months jail for having two lottery tickets illegally at the staircase of a shop at Lorong Merdeka, Kg Air at 1pm on June 16.
Anastasia was fined RM1,400 or three months jail for having one slip of illegal lottery at 4.40pm on Oct 24, while Aslisah was fined RM1,300 or three months jail for two lottery slips without a licence at the same place and time.
Wellfred was ordered to pay a fine of RM1,300 or three months jail for having five lottery tickets illegally at 4.40pm on June 27 near a shop in Donggongon town, Penampang while Nancye was fined RM1,200 or three months jail for having seven lottery slips illegally at 3.55pm on Oct 24 behind a restaurant also at Donggongon town.
The court heard from the prosecutions that the five were arrested by police during the raid following information of the gambling activities at their respective area.
The police also seized the gambling paraphernalia including cash money from the five, said the prosecution.
The five were each charged under Section 9(1) of the Common Gaming House Act carries a jail term of up to six months, or fine of up to RM3,000, or both, on conviction.
They requested a lower fine while the prosecution applied for an adequate sentence to be imposed.
The court ordered the seized money to be forfeited as government revenue.
Inspector Kelvan Elson Maik prosecuted.
