23 rounded up for gambling in public

The Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters has arrested 23 Asian workers allegedly involved in gambling in public places. Six of the arrested were found to have entered and stayed in the country illegally.

The suspects used a trouser belt, a screw driver and an ironing table in the gambling game named “Belt Rotation”.

The organisers would ask the victims to hit the screw driver in the centre of the folded belt. If the target was hit, the player or the better would get Dh100, and if he failed, he would lose Dh100. In some cases, the offer was Dh500 for Dh100.

It was practised by gamblers in public places in the Capital and around labour clusters in Mussafah for several months.

The arrested workers were organising or taking part in the game in three groups. They used to assemble mainly in car parks or street corners. One of the alleged gamesters had counterfeit Dh100 note in his possession.

Brigadier Omeir Al Muhairi, Deputy Director of Police Operations at the Abu Dhabi Police, underlined the ongoing and intensified security crackdown in combating such activities that are contrary to the values and laws of the country.

“The campaign targeted certain areas in Abu Dhabi following information on a number of legal and illegal workers running gambling in public places,” he said, adding that the police combed the areas and arrested the gamblers.

According to sources, hardcore criminals run these illegal games in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and other international and regional cities.

Muhairi said in a statement that the game was a crime and the public taking part in it will also be held responsible and tried under the rules and regulations of the country.

He further urged residents to report such activities to help the police get rid of such crimes from the society.

He also stressed that the police will keep a vigilant eye on whoever tampered with the laws.

nissar@khaleejtimes.com