Foreign Nationals Operate Own Gambling Premises With Tight Security

KUALA LUMPUR: Tight security and allowing entry only to known customers were among the tactics uncovered during a raid on gambling premises allegedly operated by foreign nationals in Pandan Jaya on Saturday.

The special operation conducted by the Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) led to the arrest of 15 foreign nationals aged between 21 and 38 who were believed to be involved in the activities.

Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the operation, which began at 12.01am, was carried out at four locations by a team of officers and personnel of various ranks from the Intelligence and Special Operations Division at the Immigration headquarters in Putrajaya.

He said the operation was conducted following information from the public and a month-long intelligence operation.

“The operation team arrested a Bangladeshi man and an Indonesian woman who were believed to be working as a premises caretaker and cashier.

“Also detained were three Myanmar men, two Indonesian men, one Bangladeshi man, one Indian man and six Indonesian women,” he said in a statement on Sunday.

Zakaria said the operation’s modus operandi involved running gambling activities behind closed doors and offering customers various types of gambling games.

“The premises were also equipped with a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system to monitor the movements of customers and the presence of enforcement authorities.

“Access to the premises was controlled using a locked magnetic metal door operated from inside,” he said.

He said preliminary checks found that the detained foreign nationals were suspected of committing various immigration offences, including misusing their passes, overstaying and not possessing valid travel documents or passes to remain in the country.

During the operation, authorities also seized seven Indonesian passports, 31 tablets, 15 mobile phones, an employee work schedule book, a copy of the premises tenancy agreement and RM1,674 in cash believed to be proceeds from the activities.

Zakaria said a Bangladeshi man and a woman were detained on suspicion of committing offences under Section 56(1)(d) and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

“Four Indonesian women were detained on suspicion of committing offences under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, while another Indonesian woman was suspected of committing an offence under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963.

“The other foreign nationals were detained on suspicion of committing offences under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63,” he said.

He said all the detained foreign nationals were taken to the Putrajaya Immigration Office for further action.

“Five local men were also issued notices to report to the office to assist in investigations.

“JIM will remain committed to carrying out continuous and firm enforcement action to combat any activities that violate the country’s laws to ensure that national security and sovereignty are always safeguarded,” he said.

Sinar Harian