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Cap. 583 · Gaming Act (Cap. 583)

Cap. 583 Art. 26Presumptive evidence of gaming.

PART VII - Enforcement and Sanctions

In forceOfficial text

(1) In the case of any infringement of any provision of this Act or any other regulatory instrument, any moneys or effects representing the gaming activity, as well as any instruments or other means used in gaming and which may have been found and seized by the Police and, or the Authority on the occasion of any search effected on any person suspected of having committed such infringement or which may have been found in any place suspected of being used for such purpose, may, until the contrary is proved, be taken as sufficient evidence that such moneys, effects or place were actually used for gaming and that the persons found therein and located within direct proximity of the moneys or effects used for gaming at the time of the search were taking part in such gaming, even though no such bets or wagers were actually going on in the presence of the Police officers and, or officers of the Authority.

(2) Where any Police officer or any officer of the Authority lawfully authorised to enter any premises suspected to be used in contravention of any regulatory instrument is wilfully prevented from or obstructed or delayed in entering the same or any part thereof, or where any door or any contrivance whatsoever is found in such premises for preventing, delaying or obstructing the entry into the same, or for giving an alarm or warning in case of such entry, or if any such premises or part thereof is found fitted or provided with any means or contrivance for unlawful betting or wagering or for concealing, removing or destroying any instruments used for such unlawful purposes, it shall be evidence, until the contrary is made to appear, that such premises are used for bets or wagers and that the persons found therein were taking part in activities in contravention of the relevant regulatory instrument.

(3) In the case of a prosecution under the provisions of this Act or any other regulatory instrument, any person who in any way whatsoever has taken part in or has been a partner of any person in any bet or wager, and whose evidence is required in support of such charge as aforesaid, shall be compellable to answer any question respecting that charge, notwithstanding that the answer thereto will expose him to criminal prosecution; but in any such event, any person who shall have given evidence in respect of such charge, and who shall have made a true and faithful statement touching such charge, to the best of his knowledge, shall thereupon obtain from the court a certificate to that effect, and he shall, in consequence, be exempted from all criminal responsibility in respect of his participation in the bet or wager forming the subject-matter of the charge upon which he gave evidence as witness.