KUALA LUMPUR: Police arrested 27 social media influencers yesterday on suspicion of conspiring with a gambling syndicate to promote online gambling activities.
Twenty-three women and four men, all locals, aged between 21 and 35, were arrested in simultaneous raids across several locations including the capital, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Johor, Perlis, Kedah and Penang.
Bukit Aman's Federal Criminal Investigation Department director, Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, said the investigation revealed that the syndicate paid salaries to the influencers based on the number of followers on their social media accounts.
"Each influencer received between RM1,500 and RM8,000 each, depending on their followers count.
"It was also discovered that each influencer associated with the syndicate was active on at least two social media platforms," he said at a press conference today.
Shuhaily said the raids also led to the seizure of 30 mobile phones belonging to the suspects.
"We found that the influencers associated with the gambling syndicate were engaged in selling various products, including beauty items, alongside promoting online gambling sites.
"These influencers are suspected to have been employed by multiple gambling syndicates for over a year," he said.
Shuhaily added that police were still conducting further investigations to identify the main mastermind behind the gambling syndicates.
"This is indicative of the shift in illegal gambling from physical premises to online platforms, highlighting the realm of cybercrime.
"Our investigation is ongoing, following the provisions of Section (1) (g) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998," he added.
In a separate case, he said that two underage local girls, aged 12 and 17, were among five individuals arrested on suspicion of using social media to promote and engage in prostitution.
He said in addition to the two teenagers, the mastermind, a 27-year-old woman known as Miza Ozawa, and two Indonesians, including a woman aged 20 and 26, were also arrested.
He said the suspects were arrested in a raid in Kajang, Selangor on June 6.
"Checks on the mastermind found that he had a previous conviction, under Section 323 of the Penal Code, for assaulting her mother.
"Preliminary investigations show that in addition to selling sex products online, they also offered sex services to customers.
"The mastermind and two Indonesians also acted as 'actors' in pornographic video recordings produced by themselves and which were sold to their customers.
"The two teenagers arrested also acted as assistants to the mastermind as well as being technical assistants for the recording of sex videos," he said, adding that the suspects were remanded for 14 days until June 20.
Shuhaily added that the investigation also found that the group was able to generate an income of up to RM20,000 per month, as a result of prostitution activities and the sale of sex products.
"Police also seized RM30,000 in cash, several mobile phones and a laptop. The investigation is ongoing under Section 372(1)(e) and Section 292(a) of the Penal Code and Regulation 7(1)(a) of the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984," he said.