Forest Casino Raided, 63 Arrested

GEORGE TOWN (Penang, Malaysia), March 29 (Bernama) -- Police have detained 63 people including 17 women at a gambling den in the middle of the forest in Kampung Batak, Sungai Ara, here on Wednesday night. Bukit Aman D7 Anti-Gambling Unit chief DSP Tan Tin Heng said a team of 10 personnel from the anti-vice, gambling and prostitution unit (D7) discovered the hotspot disguised behind a car workshop following public tip-offs and three days of investigations. Tan said police conducted the raid at 9.30pm during which the gamblers, aged between 30 and 70, were unaware of their presence and a total of RM45,000 (US$14,641.36) as well as various chips worth RM65,000 (US$21,148.63) were also confiscated. "Each bet can reach up to RM250,000 (US$81,376.51) and there are even some who put up their personal belongings to continue the game," he told reporters here on Thursday. He said those arrested were sent to the Northeast Police Headquarters for investigations under Section 7(2) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 which carries a fine of RM5,000 (US$1627.30) or jail of six months, or both. -- BERNAMA