SUNGAI PETANI: Four teenagers were among six people arrested here on Thursday during a police operation dubbed ‘Op Dadu’ to root out illegal betting syndicates.
All six were caught red-handed processing bets when the state police’s Anti-Vice, Illegal Gaming and Secret Society team led by Inspector Mohammad Hafif Zailan raided a shophouse unit in Taman Petani Jaya here at about 8pm.
State Criminal Investigation Department chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Mior Farid Al Athrash Wahid said during the raid, police seized seven desktop computers, 17 cell phones, two modems, six notebooks and seven pieces of paper believed to be betting slips.
Mior said initial investigation showed that the illegal betting syndicate, known as Intbet888, had been operating at the house since October.
"All the bets were received using WhatsApp and WeChat, and the syndicate had hired all six detainees as operators to process the bets.
"Checks on the background of the teenagers and two men aged 21 showed that they have no criminal record," he said when contacted.
The case has been classified under Section 4B (a) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, which provides for a fine of between RM10,000 and RM100,000, or imprisonment of up to five years upon conviction.