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Malaysia’s Immigration Department detained 15 foreigners during a raid on 4 suspected gambling premises in Pandan Jaya.
The special operation began at 12:01 am on Saturday after a month-long intelligence effort based on public tip-offs. Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the premises were targeted following information received by enforcement authorities.
The arrested individuals were 6 males and 9 females, ranging in age from 21 to 38.
Those arrested included a Bangladeshi male and an Indonesian female believed to be working as caregivers and cashiers on the site.
The other arrested individuals consisted of 3 Myanmar men, 2 Indonesian men, a Bangladeshi male, an Indian male, and 6 Indonesian women.
Checks Find Immigration Concerns
It was discovered that these detainees had been using their passes improperly, overstaying their welcome in Malaysia, or lacked valid travel papers or passes permitting them to stay in Malaysia.
The 15 foreigners were brought to the Putrajaya Immigration Office for further questioning.
The Immigration Department is continuing its investigation into the individuals and their suspected connection to the gambling premises.
Authorities also issued notices to 5 local men, requiring them to appear at the Immigration Office to assist with the investigation.
The report did not provide additional information regarding the roles of the local men or their possible links to the alleged activities at the 4 premises.
Devices, Passports, and Cash Seized
During the operation, Immigration officers seized 7 Indonesian passports, 31 tablets, and 15 mobile phones.
Authorities also confiscated an employee roster, copies of tenancy agreements, and RM1,674 in cash. The cash was believed to be proceeds from the gambling activities.
The equipment and documents were seized as part of the investigation into the suspected closed-door gambling operations.
The 31 tablets and 15 mobile phones found at the locations are among the items being examined by authorities. The employee roster and tenancy agreements may also be relevant to identifying the people involved in operating or managing the premises.
Premises Used Controlled Entry System
Zakaria said the locations operated as closed-door gambling outlets that admitted only regular or known customers.
The premises were equipped with closed-circuit television cameras to monitor customers and detect the presence of enforcement authorities.
Access to the gambling venues was controlled through magnetically locked metal doors operated from inside the premises. This setup allowed the people inside to control entry and limit access to identified customers.
The use of CCTV cameras and locked doors showed that the outlets had security measures in place to monitor activity outside and inside the locations.
The operation covered 4 gambling premises around Pandan Jaya. Authorities did not state how long the outlets had been operating or how many customers used the locations.
Legal Action and Further Investigation
4 Indonesian women are being investigated under Section 15(1)(c) of the same Act. Another Indonesian woman is being investigated under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963.
The other foreigners are being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
The investigation remains ongoing as Immigration officers review the identities, documents, seized devices, and materials recovered during the raid.
Zakaria said the Immigration Department will continue enforcement operations to curb activities that violate Malaysia’s laws.
Source: The Star
