11 CHINESE NATIONALS HELD, ONLINE GAMBLING SYNDICATE IN CAPITAL BUSTED

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- The Immigration Department has busted an online gambling syndicate operating covertly from a luxury residence with the arrest of 11 Chinese nationals during a special operation at Jalan P. Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur, last Thursday (Oct 9).

Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said that during the 3.50 pm operation, personnel from the department’s Intelligence and Special Operations Division at the Putrajaya Immigration headquarters arrested 10 men and one woman, aged between 20 and 40.

“The syndicate’s modus operandi was to convert luxury residential units into online gambling operation centres managed by Chinese nationals and targeting overseas markets.

“The activity utilised the Telegram and WhatsApp applications for promotional and communication purposes,” he said in a statement today.

Checks found that two men had misused their Social Visit Passes, five others had overstayed, while three men and one woman did not possess any valid travel documents or passes to remain in the country.

“The team also seized seven Chinese passports, 11 laptops, seven mobile phones, three computer sets, and cash amounting to RM3,900,” he said.

He added that all the suspects are being detained on suspicion of committing offences under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963, Section 15(4) and Section 6(3) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

“All the foreign nationals have been taken to the Putrajaya Immigration Office for further investigation,” he said.

-- BERNAMA