Gambling gamers in police raid

Eleven people were taken into police custody on Monday during a crackdown on a Takhmao town gambling den of debated legality.

After receiving an anonymous tip about a residential apartment building where young people gathered to bet money on computer games, police raided the site and picked up 11 suspects including one woman, a scorekeeper, said Sar Nay Sreang, deputy Takhmao town police chief.

“Betting on the internet makes many youth and children truants. They use their pocket money to bet, and also pawn their possessions,” said Nay Sreang.

During the raid, police also discovered two certificates supposedly permitting the facility to allow gambling. The licences were issued by the Kandal Provincial Department of Posts and Telecommunications. Police said the certificates are under investigation to determine their authenticity.

But Duem Buth Dandith, chief of Takhmao town police, said the certificates only granted permission to run an internet cafe and did not allow gambling.

The suspects have been charged with engaging in illegal gambling and will be forwarded to court today, he said.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/gambling-gamers-police-raid