Six men fined $7,500 for gambling

SIX men involved in gambling four years ago were sentenced to pay a total fine of $7,500 yesterday after they pleaded guilty to the offence before the Magistrate's Court.

The main defendant, Othman Yacob, 43, was fined $5,000 in default of six months in jail after he pleaded guilty of assisting in carrying out public lottery.

The other defendants, Azlan Kudong, Bakiri Hj Mustapha, Sharin Abdul Latip, Hishamuddin Hj Md Hussin and Hj Aji Hj Md Noor were each imposed a fine of $500 in default one month in jail.

The court document states that the six men were arrested on November 5, 2008, following a raid conducted by the Anti-Vice Unit at the first floor of the Grand City Hotel, Batu Bersurat in Gadong, a place believed to have been used to run a public lottery.During the raid, the police found several items belonging to the defendants, such as items used for gambling, cash and playing cards.

Othman had admitted that he rented the hotel room to carry out a public lottery which is a game of chance "Katam-Katam" and he admitted that he has been hosting it for six days in a row. The other defendants hadalso admitted to having participated in "Katam-Katam" game. — Syazwan Sadikin

The Brunei Times