BATU PAHAT: Police have arrested 11 people, including two women, for alleged involvement in gambling activities.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk M. Kumar said the suspects were arrested in a series of raids on Wednesday (Sept 11).
"The group of police officers and personnel conducted 11 separate raids on business premises around the Batu Pahat district in relation to unlicensed public lottery activities.
"During the raids, 11 individuals who are believed to have been assisting in the illegal activity, were arrested," he said in a statement here on Thursday (Sept 12).
He said that the suspects were all locals aged 19 to 51.
"Various items such as pens, white paper with numbers written on them, mobile phones of various brands, and cash totalling RM1,457 were also seized in the raids," he added.
He said that the case was being investigated under Section 4A(a) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 for assisting in carrying out a public lottery, which carries a fine of up to RM200,000 and also imprisonment of not more than five years, upon conviction.
Comm Kumar added that since Jan 1 this year, the Johor police have conducted 1,222 raids and arrested 1,227 individuals, including 45 foreigners, for suspected involvement in unlicensed public lottery activities.
