3 Pinays fined for illegal gambling in Central

The spiral staircase in Central that attracts crowds of gamblers every Sunday. (Google Maps photo)

Three Filipinas arrested while gambling during their Sunday off in Central last Dec. 15, were each fined $500 today after they pleaded guilty at Eastern Court.

Helen Rosales, 61 years old, Rowena Acosta, 54, and Raylon Princess Peralta, 37 years old, were arrested along with Pakistanis Ashraf Mohammad, 45, and Adnan Masood, 31, near the spiral staircase on Murray and Queens Road Central.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Principal Magistrate Don So convicted them of violation of section 13(2) of the Gambling Ordinance, which outlaws all gambling in Hong Kong, unless authorized by the government.

This law punishes any person convicted of gambling unlawfully with a maximum fine set at level 3 ($10,000) and imprisonment at maximum of three months on first conviction.

On second conviction, the maximum fine is raised to level 4 ($($25,000) and imprisonment to six  months;

PINDUTIN DITO

On third or subsequent conviction, the maximum fine is set at level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment at nine months.

Officers of the Special Duties Squad in Central Police District descended on the gambliong site, where crowds usually gather on Sundays to either gamble their earnings or watch the gamblers.

Basahin ang detalye!

The raid came in the wake of complaints from passersby that the sidewalk had been blocked by the gamblers and spectators.

A similar crowd also gathers weekly to place bets on playing cards near the Bus 13 stop beside the City Hall.

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