Penang cops bust online gambling ring raking in millions

GEORGE TOWN: A syndicate that has been raking in millions of ringgit via online gambling was uncovered by Penang police after two raids, says state police chief Comm Datuk Khaw Kok Chin.

Khaw said in the first raid in Jelutong at 10.45am on Tuesday, four men and five women, all aged between 23 and 32, were detained.

He said the syndicate had been operating for the past year from a location they had rented for RM7,000 a month.

The premises, he said, looked like a regular office and no one suspected any criminal activities happening there.

“However, through police inspection and investigation, we managed to unveil their illicit operations,” he told a press conference here yesterday, reported BK.

Comm Khaw said the syndicate was involved in promoting various online games through WeChat and Facebook, targeting customers in Australia and Bangladesh and successfully generating income of up to RM1mil a month.

A 32-year-old woman detained in the raid was the syndicate’s leader.

He said she was responsible for recruiting workers with salaries ranging from RM2,000 to RM6,000 per month.

“In addition to their salaries, they also received commissions for each successful promotion to customers outside the country,” said Comm Khaw.

In the second raid at a luxury condominium at Queensbay in Bayan Baru at 1.30pm, the police arrested four local men aged 21 to 33.

“Two of them were the main leaders and had been operating in the condominium for five months, earning profits of up to RM1.5mil per month,” he said.

Comm Khaw said based on investigations, the syndicate had rented the condominium for RM5,000 per month and used it as a call centre for online gambling activities, targeting customers in Australia.

Following the two raids, the police seized various computer equipment, 32 mobile phones, modems, notebooks, closed-circuit television cameras and nine cars, all valued at over RM700,000.

“All 13 individuals detained have no criminal records and are currently in remand to assist in the investigation,” he said.

He added that the case is being investigated under Sections 4(1)(c) and 4(1)(g) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.