KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 — Police have arrested 690 individuals for alleged involvement in gambling and betting on the 2022 Qatar World Cup football matches under the nationwide Op Soga IX from November 19 to December 21.
Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) secretary Datuk Noorsiah Saaduddin said all those arrested were either bookies or punters and the case is being investigated under the Betting Act 1953 and the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.
She added during the period, 530 investigation papers had been opened, with 202 being acted upon and 87 others charged and convicted.
Noorsiah said Selangor had the most number of arrests with 179, followed by Kuala Lumpur (142), Johor (59), Negeri Sembilan (57), Sarawak (54), Pulau Pinang (43), Sabah (41), Kedah (32), Melaka (27), Pahang (18), Perak (17), Terengganu (11), Perlis (six), and Kelantan (four).
She said police also seized various items, including RM22.3 million in credit value from betting software, RM518, 563 in cash, mobile phones (817), sim cards (386 pieces), computers (74), and laptops (47).
“PDRM hopes that members of the public can channel information on gambling activities through the Ops Soga IX WhatsApp hotline at 016-577-3477,” Noorsiah said in a statement today.
— Bernama
