7 HK influencers arrested for allegedly promoting illegal online gambling
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The Hong Kong police have arrested seven influencers for allegedly promoting illegal online gambling that accept bets on World Cup football matches on their social media over the past week.
According to the public press conference, chief inspector Chan Ka Ying of the New Territories South regional crime unit said that the police conducted a week-long anti-illegal gambling operation last Monday and they searched various premises in Mong Kok, Tsuen Wan, Tseung Kwan O. Upon the operation, the police have seized seven mobile phones, a tablet computer and laptop.
Seven individuals were arrested during the operation, two of whom were reported as entertainers and beauticians, and the rest were reported as unemployed. One of them was revealed to have used others' photos to open social media accounts to attract more attention.
The seven suspects, aged between 20 to 30, were arrested between 21 to 27 November 21 to 27 across the city for promoting bookmaking and betting with a bookmaker. Some of the arrested individuals allegedly promoted the illegal online gambling sites on their own social media accounts, said the police spokeswoman.
A woman who was arrested for "possession of the Part 1 poison" had posted information about the sale of e-cigarettes on social media. The police will further investigate in the direction of illegal sales of e-cigarettes.
“We believe that because of their online influence, criminals offered monetary rewards to lure them into promoting illegal gambling websites and attracting punters through their social media platforms,” Chan said.
The police warned the members of public that promoting or facilitating bookmaking or betting with a bookmaker is serious crime. Upon conviction, the maximum penalty is a fine of HK$5 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Back in February this year, the police arrested a cosmetics businesswoman and social media influencer for gambling illegally at an online casino and promoting bookmaking, according to SCMP. Local influencer So Mei Yan was accused of showing her gambling activities on a foreign gambling website online.
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