Six foreign nationals were fined by the Magistrate’s Court in Penang on Wednesday after pleading guilty to charges of participating in illegal betting on the 2026 FIFA World Cup earlier this month.
The accused comprised four Chinese nationals – Yang Zhilong, 31, Zhou Bao, 31, Xu Kai, 26, and Ma Jiahao, 24 – as well as two Myanmar nationals, Khaing Moe Nwe, 27, and Le Kyar Hkyan, 23.
All six admitted to jointly placing football bets at a condominium in Persiaran Mahsuri, Sungai Nibong Kecil, Bayan Baru, at about 6.45pm on July 1.
They were charged under Section 6(1) of the Betting Act 1953, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum fine of RM5,000, imprisonment of up to six months, or both upon conviction.
Magistrate Chia Huey Ting sentenced each of the six accused to a fine of RM1,200, with a default sentence of three months’ imprisonment if the fines are not paid.
In separate proceedings before the same court, five of the accused – Yang Zhilong, Zhou Bao, Xu Kai, Ma Jiahao and Khaing Moe Nwe – also pleaded guilty to remaining in Malaysia without valid travel documents.
They were charged under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, punishable under Section 6(3) of the same Act.
The court imposed a RM3,000 fine each on Yang Zhilong, Zhou Bao and Xu Kai, while Ma Jiahao and Khaing Moe Nwe were each fined RM3,300. They were also ordered to serve three months in jail if they fail to pay the fines.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Ikmal Affandi Zulkifli, while all of the accused were unrepresented.
