Kota Kinabalu: Three unemployed men were fined a total of RM4,500 on Thursday for engaging in gambling activities.
Ong Bee Kuan, 50, Mohd Hazlan Mohammad, 26, and Mohd Amirul Ameer, 25, pleaded guilty separately before Magistrate Lovely Natasha Charles to the charge against them.
They were each fined RM1,500 or two months in jail.
Ong was found having three pieces of illegal lottery ticket at noon on Sept 26 here.
The court heard from the prosecution that Ong was arrested by police who also seized the said lottery tickets, a handphone, a mobile printer and RM70 cash from him.
The offence under Section 9(1) of the Common Gaming House Act provides for a fine of up to RM5,000 or up to six months in jail or both, on conviction.
Hazlan was found gambling in a public place at Inanam on Aug 28 at 6.37pm.
The police arrested Hazlan and seized a handphone and RM100 from him, said the prosecution.
Amirul was also found gambling in public here at 2.32pm on June 10, this year.
Amirul’s handphone and RM60 were seized from him when he was arrested, the court heard.
Both Hazlan and Amirul were charged under Section 7(2) of the same Act which provides for a fine of up to RM5,000 or up to six months in jail or both, on conviction.
Counsel for the tree accused requested a lenient sentence on the grounds that they were currently unemployed and taking care of their respective parents.
The prosecution applied for a deterrent sentence and disposal order on the seized items.
The court ordered the seized money to be forfeited to the government.
Inspector Kelvan Elson Maik prosecuted.
Counsel Lim Ming Zoong @ Lawrence and Carmen Khoo acted as counsel for the three accused.
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