Men chicken out of cockfighting after run-in with police

SIBU: A group of men involved in illegal cockfighting, including one undergoing home quarantine, tried to fly the coop upon seeing a team of policemen.

However, police managed to catch all of them.

Sibu OCPD Asst Comm Stanley Jonathan Ringgit said the enforcement team for the movement control order was patrolling along Lane 22C, Sibu Jaya, at about 3.30pm on Sunday (Feb 7) when they saw the five men, aged between 23 to 46, involved in illegal cockfighting.

"All of them ran off upon seeing the policemen. A cat-and-mouse chase ensued but the policemen managed to arrest all of them," he said.

ACP Stanley said one of the men was supposed to be undergoing Covid-19 home quarantine as he had a white wristband on his left hand.

"He had a swab test at 8am but was involved in the illegal cockfighting session when he should be at home," he said.

Police also confiscated five roosters, a weighing machine and other cockfighting accessories.

The men were fined RM1,000 for violating the MCO under Section 22B of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations) 1988.

They also being investigated under Section 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 for illegal cockfighting.