Youths arrested for operating gambling den
Lianhe Wanbao
A number of youths have been arrested for operating an illegal gambling den.
The operation is believed to be started by a 22-year-old undergraduate and his elder brother who is in national service. The two had rented a two-storey terrace house at Jalan Isnin near Sin Ming Road to serve as a gambling den.
The younger brother posted online ads in local gambling forums to attract gamblers while the elder brother invited his friends in camp to gamble at the den. The den mainly attracts youth-gamblers, many of whom are students.
Despite their young age, the gamblers are known to often place bets of two to three hundred dollars in each game. Business at the den quickly thrived and soon attracted the attention of the police.
After several days of staking out the den, police raided the place at 6.15pm on 12 October. Fourteen males were arrested including the two brothers. All of those arrested are between the ages of 17 and 37.
Besides the two brothers, the other 12 people involved include two 17-year-old secondary school students, four polytechnic students between the age of 17 to 23, a professional gambler (age 37) a manager (age 34) and four youths serving national service.
Gambling-related paraphernalia such as gaming chips, cards, poker tables and cash amounting to S$1,850 were seized from the house.
Under the Common Gaming Houses Act, any person convicted of gaming in a common gaming house can be fined up to S$5,000 or jailed for up to six months.
Anyone found guilty of managing a place used as a gaming house shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not less than S$5,000 and not more than S50,000 and jailed for up to three years.
Source: Lianhe Wanbao, 14 October 2011.
