Lorry driver fined RM1,500 for purchasing lottery ticket

PASIR MAS - A lorry driver was fined RM1,500 by the magistrate's court here today for purchasing a lottery ticket, two years ago.

Magistrate Rais Imran Hamid imposed the fine on Mohd Azwan Che Mohd, 38, after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

According to the charge sheet, Mohd Azwan had purchased a lottery ticket at a shoplot located at the lower ground floor of a building in Rantau Panjang at 5.40pm on Jan 26, 2021.

The charge was framed under Section 9 (1) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 which carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or a maximum imprisonment of six months or both, if found guilty.

Earlier, the accused pleaded not guilty to a charge of aiding in running a public lottery without licence in a restaurant at the old bus station in Rantau Panjang here at 4.10am on May 24.

The accused was charged under Section 4A (a) of the same Act which carries a fine between RM20,000 and RM200,000 and a maximum imprisonment of five years, if convicted.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Syafiq Aizat Nazri while the accused was represented by lawyer Mohd Firdaus Zainal Abidin.

During the proceedings, Mohd Firdaus pleaded for leniency (for the first case) and bail (for the second case) for his client saying that the latter has given his full cooperation to the authorities after the arrest.

The court then handed down the fine and ordered the accused to serve four months in jail if he fails to pay the fine.

The accused was also allowed RM7,000 bail for the second case. His case will be up for mention on July 11.