Kota Kinabalu: A 23-year-old fishmonger was fined RM1,800, or one month’s imprisonment in default by the Magistrate’s Court here on Friday for making an illegal football bet on 2026 World Cup matches.
Md Raffi Sanuy admitted the charge before Magistrate Marilyn Kelvin of placing illegal bets at the five-foot way in front of a restaurant in Inanam Taipan at about 12.30am on July 8.
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The offence, under Section 6(1) of the Betting Act 1953, carries a fine of up to RM5,000, imprisonment of up to six months, or both, upon conviction.
The prosecution told the court that a police team conducted surveillance at the location for about 15 minutes before detecting Raffi operating an illegal online football betting activity using a mobile phone.
Police approached him and found an application used for online betting on his phone before placing him under arrest.
A mobile phone and RM120 in cash were also seized.
A gambling expert’s report confirmed that the application, named “Joker”, was used for online football betting and contained a history of bets placed on football matches.
Counsel Carmen Khoo, representing Raffi, appealed for a lenient sentence, saying he was remorseful, his wife was nine months pregnant and he was also supporting both his parents.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the RM120 cash to the Government.
In a separate case, a 33-year-old lorry driver pleaded not guilty to assaulting his wife.
Mohd Sukri Felnando was charged with voluntarily causing hurt to his 33-year-old wife by punching her in the left eye, causing injury.
He allegedly committed the offence at a house in Kampung Teluk Layang Baru, Likas, at about 7.15pm on July 5.
The charge, under Section 323 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 326A of the same Code, carries a maximum jail term of one year, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both.
Section 326A provides for up to twice the maximum punishment if the offence is committed against a spouse.
The complainant, who was present in court, informed the court that she had lodged a police report to withdraw her earlier report against the accused.
The court fixed July 23 for further instructions from the Deputy Public Prosecutor and released Sukri on bail of RM2,300 with two sureties.
The prosecution was conducted by Inspector Yusdi Basri.
