GEORGE TOWN: Six people have pleaded not guilty to a charge of running an online gambling call centre here.

The three men and three women appeared calm as the charge was read out to them and each stated "tidak bersalah" (not guilty) as their names were read out before Magistrate Mohamad Azlan Basri on Tuesday (Jan 23).

The accused – Choo Pi Tse, Ching Zi Wei and Yeap Ting Yao, all 32, as well as Lai Ming Hao, 30; Lye Kher Ying, 26, and

Ong Ji Wei, 24 – work in the graphic design, marketing and human resource fields.

Based on the charge sheet, they were caught allegedly promoting online gambling using Facebook, WhatsApp and WeChat on computers and smartphones at a company named Geniebee Sdn Bhd, located at a commercial centre in Jelutong around 10.45am on Jan 16.

The offence – under Section 4(1)(g) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 read with Section 34 of the Penal Code (for a criminal act committed by several individuals in furtherance of a common intention) – carries a fine of between RM5,000 and RM50,000 and a jail term of up to three years upon conviction.

DPP Syairah Aqilah Khalil urged the court to impose RM9,000 bail on each accused.

In mitigation, lawyer Teh Yi Kai – who represented Choo, Ching, Yeap, Lye and Ong – said Choo was married and had a child and while the others were single and had parents to care for.

"Based on their backgrounds, they all have dependents and are not flight risks.

"The items related to the case have been seized by the police and there cannot be any tampering of evidence.

"All six were remanded for six days before being produced in court," he added while urging the court to impose nominal bail.

Ang Xin Lin, who represented Lai, said her client only earned RM3,000 a month as a graphic designer and also appealed for lower bail.

Mohamad Azlan then set bail at RM3,000 for each accused with one surety, and fixed March 11, for case mention pending the submission of documents.

All six posted bail.