GEORGE TOWN: Three Chinese nationals have pleaded guilty to online gambling over FIFA World Cup 2026 matches at a Magistrates Court here.

Gao Yue, 25, Ma Yucheng, 27 and Ma Wenlyu, 32, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Nadratun Naim Mohd Said after the charge sheet was read to them in Mandarin at the George Town Court in Penang on Friday (July 3) morning.

They were charged with gambling together in a common gaming house at The Light Collection 1, Jalan Pantai Sinaran, Gelugor, at about 4.30pm on June 26.

The three men were charged with committing an offence under Section 6(1) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, read with Section 34 of the Penal Code (joint criminal liability).

If convicted, all the accused could be fined not exceeding RM5,000 or imprisoned of up to six months or both.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Danial Amir Saad prosecuted while the three accused were represented by lawyers K. Mahendran and M. Sharmila.

Ahmad Danial requested for an appropriate sentence for all the accused.

In her appeal, Sharmila told the court that all of her clients have families and dependents and this is their first offence.

She said that all three accused regretted their actions and would not repeat them.

"I believe their guilty plea has saved the court time and costs. We urge the court to only impose a fine," she said.

Nadratun then imposed a fine of RM5,000 on each accused, stating that failure to pay would result in a six-month jail sentence.

The men were arrested under Ops Soga, a nationwide police operation to crack down on illegal sports betting and online gambling in conjunction with the FIFA World Cup.