By Lee Shi-Ianshi

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: A 12-year-boy has the dubious distinction of being the country's youngest bookie when he was arrested in a raid in Sabak Bernam last week.

The Year Six pupil was among 12 people arrested by police for being involved in an illegal gaming syndicate.

Among the 12, five were teenagers who had been trained by the syndicate to run the operation.

They were active in recruiting new customers and accepting bets.

Police were shocked when they caught the primary school pupil.

A source said the boy was attracted to the easy money offered by the syndicate.

The youngest syndicate member was paid a salary for collecting bets and he is believed to have received hundreds of ringgit in commission.

During the raid, all the underaged suspects were caught accepting bets by the phone and fax messages.

Investigations revealed that the underage suspects worked part-time at the syndicate's operating centre, mainly on draw days.

The operation was jointly organised by Bukit Aman and Sabak Bernam police following tip-offs of illegal gambling activities taking place in the district.

The police team raided two houses simultaneously just after 7pm where the 12 suspects were nabbed.

They also seized various equipment, including mobile phones and betting slips.

A source said based on records seized in both houses, the syndicate is believed to have raked in hundreds of thousands of ringgit every month.

The syndicate is believed to have accepted between RM60,000 (S$24,642) and RM70,000 on each draw day.