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Fourteen individuals are now facing legal proceedings in Kota Kinabalu after being accused of managing or assisting in the operation of an illegal gambling premises. The group, which includes a Chinese national, appeared before Magistrates Wan Farrah Fariza Wan Ghazali and Marilyn Kelvin, where they all entered not-guilty pleas.
Details of the Alleged Offence
The defendants are accused of being involved in the running of a common gaming house located at Sinar Bayu Sdn Bhd Employment Agency inside Wisma Merdeka. Authorities allege that the activities took place on 2 October at around 2.40pm.
The charges fall under Section 4(1)(c) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, legislation designed to combat unlicensed gambling. Convictions under this section carry penalties of up to RM50,000 (approximately US$10,400) and a maximum prison sentence of three years.
Bail Conditions and Court Proceedings
Bail arrangements varied depending on the defendant. The foreign national, Zhou Pan, was ordered to surrender his passport and was granted bail set at RM3,000. Most of the other defendants were released on bail of RM1,200 each, with two local sureties. Four individuals—Wong Jun Kai, Jonathan Johnny, Emily Chia Su Jie, and Rebekah Wong Chee En—were granted slightly higher bail amounts of RM1,500.
A separate hearing before Magistrate Marilyn Kelvin involved five more accused individuals, who were given bail amounts ranging between RM1,200 and RM1,500. In addition to their bail, they were also instructed to report to the investigating officer on a monthly basis.
While the prosecution initially requested RM10,000 bail for each defendant, the court settled on significantly lower amounts after the defense argued that the accused had cooperated fully during the investigation and maintained permanent addresses within the country.
Next Steps in the Case
The cases are scheduled for mention on two separate dates—25 November and 3 December—where further directions from the court will be determined. Until then, the accused remain out on bail under the conditions set by the magistrates.
Illegal gambling remains a recurring concern for Malaysian authorities, with Wisma Merdeka and other commercial locations in Kota Kinabalu regularly monitored for unlawful activity. The current proceedings underline the continued enforcement of the Common Gaming Houses Act as part of broader efforts to curb unlicensed gaming operations.
Source: gamblinginsider.com
