New sheriff in town: Comm Khaw inspecting the seized cars at the Penang police contingent headquarters. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: An online gambling racket here was raking in about RM100,000 daily, making about RM3mil in its first month of operation alone.
They thought they had it all, that is, until police caught up with them following a public tip-off.
Seven members in their 20s and 30s were detained in separate raids carried out over two days on Penang island and the mainland.
Police are still looking for three others, whom they believe are the masterminds behind the ring.
Among the items seized were five cars, four motorcycles, 34 handphones, five house access cards, five central processing units, 10 monitors and other items including RM15,200 in cash.
Newly appointed Penang police chief Comm Datuk Khaw Kok Chin said they arrested five people, including a woman, during the first raid at a condominium unit in Bayan Baru on Saturday.
“We seized various electronic devices believed to be used for online gambling. Initial investigation showed that the five syndicate members were paid between RM1,600 and RM2,000 a month.
“Following interrogations, we raided a second premises nearby. It was empty but we managed to seize some devices as well,” he told reporters at the state police headquarters here yesterday.
Comm Khaw said the sixth suspect, a man, was detained in Butterworth on Saturday while the seventh suspect, also a man, was picked up in Prai on Sunday.
“Both men are believed to be running the online gambling syndicate.
“Investigations revealed the syndicate, which had been active for the past month, was able to rake in about RM100,000 in profit a day or RM3mil a month,” he said.Comm Khaw said the syndicate was targeting local clients and those from neighbouring countries.
“Their modus operandi was to use mobile apps to promote various online gambling games. Their transactions involved local and foreign bank accounts,” he said.
Comm Khaw said two of the seven suspects had previous gambling-related records.
