Fourteen people, including one foreign national, have been charged in the Kota Kinabalu Magistrates’ Courts for allegedly operating an illegal gambling premises at Wisma Merdeka. All of them pleaded not guilty to the charges when brought before Magistrates Wan Farrah Fariza Wan Ghazali and Marilyn Kelvin.

According to reports from The Daily Express, the group was accused of managing or helping to manage a common gaming house located at the Sinar Bayu Sdn Bhd Employment Agency in Wisma Merdeka. The incident was said to have taken place on 2 October at about 2.40pm.

The charges were made under Section 4(1)(c) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953. This law carries a maximum fine of RM50,000, which is around US$10,400, and up to three years in jail if found guilty.

Bail Set Between RM1,200 and RM3,000

During the hearing, bail amounts were set based on each person’s situation. The only foreigner, Zhou Pan, was told to surrender his passport and given bail of RM3,000. Most of the Malaysians received RM1,200 bail each with two local sureties, while four others, Wong Jun Kai, Jonathan Johnny, Emily Chia Su Jie and Rebekah Wong Chee En, were given RM1,500 each.

In a separate session, five more defendants appeared before Magistrate Marilyn Kelvin. Their bail ranged from RM1,200 to RM1,500, and they must report to the investigating officer once a month.

Prosecution Requested Higher Bail

Deputy Public Prosecutor Arfa Anchal Khan had originally requested that the court set bail at RM10,000 for each of the accused. However, the defence lawyers argued for a lower amount, saying that the defendants had cooperated fully with police during the investigation and that most of them have permanent local addresses.

After considering these reasons, the court agreed to reduce the bail to more affordable amounts for all the accused. The decision was made to ensure that they would still be able to attend court sessions while the legal process continues.

Next Court Dates Set for Mention

The court set 25 November and 3 December as the  mention dates for the cases. The accused must follow all court conditions, including reporting to the investigating officer and keeping their bail active.

The case has drawn public interest as it reflects Malaysia’s ongoing efforts to tackle illegal gambling under the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, with the aim to protect the community and economy.

The final outcome depends on the evidence and arguments presented by the prosecution and defence when the trial begins later this year. The court will assess witness statements, investigation reports, and other supporting documents before making its judgment. If found guilty, the accused could face fines or imprisonment as provided by law.