TAWAU, MALAYSIA: Police arrested 20 people and seized RM45,450 in cash during a Chinese New Year gambling session at a house on Apas Road here on Saturday.

Tawau acting district police chief Deputy Supt Mohd Zaidi Abdullah said among those arrested were the house owner and his wife and some of the gamblers, aged between 33 and 77. Some had come from other states.

Apart from the money used to play the dice game called 'pai kau,' police also seized gambling paraphernalia, he said.

Deputy Supt Mohd Zaidi added that the raiding team had been monitoring the house for several days before deciding to move in.

The gamblers would be charged under Section 6(1) of the Gaming House Act 1953 while the house owner would be charged for allowing his house to be used for gambling.

Although there were other guests at the open house, the police detained only those involved in gambling.