KUALA LUMPUR: Police have arrested a suspected bookie of an international syndicate that has been taking bets totalling about RM12mil a month on football matches.
City police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Dell Akbar Khan said the syndicate also accepted bets from gamblers in other countries such as China.
He said a team from the city anti-vice, gaming and secret societies division, acting on a tip-off, detained a 54-year-old man when they stormed a condominium in Jalan Gelugor, off Jalan San Peng here, on Saturday night.
He said the suspect was believed to be involved in taking bets on English Premier League, Portuguese Premier League, Spanish Prima La Liga, Italian Serie A as well as Women’s World Cup matches.
Based on documents recovered, police believed the syndicate took bets of RM1mil a day on several “high profile” football matches.
The police team also seized a computer, a facsimile machine, telecommunication sets, RM23,800 and some betting slips.
“The suspect, who is believed to be a bookie, had been detained by federal police for illegal bookmaking on horseracing at the same premises two years ago.
“We have obtained an order from the magistrate's court to remand him for five days until Oct 2 to facilitate investigations.”
Police are investigating the case under Section 6(3)(a) of Betting Ordinance, 1953 which carries a maximum five years’ imprisonment or fine of between RM20,000 and RM200,000 upon conviction.
