14 Charged in Kota Kinabalu Illegal Gambling Case
Fourteen people have been formally charged in Kota Kinabalu for allegedly running or assisting in an illegal gambling venue. The group, which includes one Chinese national, appeared before Magistrates Wan Farrah Fariza Wan Ghazali and Marilyn Kelvin and all entered pleas of not guilty.
Details of the Alleged Offense
The accused are said to have been involved in managing a common gaming house situated at Sinar Bayu Sdn Bhd Employment Agency within Wisma Merdeka. The alleged incident occurred on 2 October at approximately 2:40 pm.
The charges were filed under Section 4(1)(c) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, which targets unlicensed gambling activities. Convictions under this law can result in fines up to RM50,000 (around US$10,400) and imprisonment for up to three years.
Bail Arrangements and Court Proceedings
Bail amounts were set according to individual circumstances. Zhou Pan, the foreign national, was ordered to surrender his passport and granted bail of RM3,000. The majority of other defendants received bail of RM1,200 each with two local sureties. Four defendants ( Wong Jun Kai, Jonathan Johnny, Emily Chia Su Jie, and Rebekah Wong Chee En ) were granted RM1,500 bail.
A separate session overseen by Magistrate Marilyn Kelvin involved five additional accused individuals, who were granted bail ranging from RM1,200 to RM1,500, along with instructions to report to the investigating officer monthly. The prosecution had initially requested RM10,000 bail per person, but the court reduced it after the defense highlighted the defendants’ cooperation and stable local addresses.
Next Steps in the Case
The matter is set for mention on 25 November and 3 December, during which the court will provide further directions. Meanwhile, the accused remain on bail under the stipulated conditions.
Illegal gambling continues to be a focus for Malaysian authorities, with locations like Wisma Merdeka regularly monitored. These proceedings underscore ongoing enforcement of the Common Gaming Houses Act as part of efforts to clamp down on unlicensed gaming operations.
