SUBANG JAYA: The police have busted an online gambling syndicate, which rakes in an income of RM20 million a year.
Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said 84 people, including one foreigner, were arrested during Op Dadu at Sky Park @ One City near here on Monday.
A total of 105 mobile phones, 94 laptops, six luxury vehicles and cash amounting to RM15,849 were seized in the 3.15pm.
"The syndicate registered its business as an information technology (IT) company, but develops online gambling software targeting users in Thailand, Brazil, China and Vietnam.
"They have been operating since three years ago and they use applications such as Apexplay, Play168, 168KJW, Betace and Sealotto," he said at the Subang Jaya district police headquarters here.
He added that all the individuals arrested, aged between 23 and 43, were computer science graduates, and were being paid between RM5,000 and RM20,000 monthly.
"The syndicate forks out RM320,000 for salary.
"We believe that these workers knew they were promoting and developing online gambling applications."
The suspects had been remanded for four days from March 19, and are being investigated under Sections 4(1)(a), 4(1)(c), and 4(1)(g) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 for conducting, managing and promoting online gambling platforms.
If found guilty, they would be fined between RM5,000 and RM50,000 for each gambling machine and imprisoned not more than three years.