YouTuber jailed
Prominent YouTuber Saad Ur Rehman, better known by his alias “Ducky Bhai,” has been jailed in Pakistan over allegations of promoting gambling apps.
A Lahore court sent Ducky to jail on a 14-day judicial remand after the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) presented him at court following a three-day physical remand.
trial likely to take place in short order
Investigators had sought a seven-day extension to the physical remand, which the judge denied before giving the jail order. In addition, the judge also ordered investigators to file their case as early as possible, with a trial likely to take place in short order.
Airport arrest
Rehman was arrested by the NCCIA at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore last month, reportedly while attempting to leave the country.
During the arrest, Rehman also had his mobile phone confiscated, with investigators allegedly discovering messages related to gambling promotion, suspicious payments, and that Rehman was made the “country manager” for Pakistan by one gambling operator.
authorities have also alleged that the apps failed to provide promised returns and were fraudulent
Authorities have accused him of using his channel to promote unauthorized gambling apps including Binomo, 1xBet, and B9 Game. In addition to gambling being illegal in Pakistan, authorities have also alleged that the apps failed to provide promised returns and were fraudulent.
At an earlier hearing, a Federal Investigation Agency official stated: “This is about more than advertising; it’s about accountability for enabling financial scams.”
Influencers summoned
Rehman is not the only influencer in Pakistan to have come under pressure over gambling. In a separate case, fellow influencer Mudassir Hussain also appeared before the court, having his physical remand extended by four days.
Several other high-profile social media personalities in Pakistan have now also reportedly been summoned, including Iqra Kanwal, Muhammad Anas Ali, Hasnain Shah, and Nadeem Nani Wala.
If convicted of the cases, the alleged fraudulent nature of the apps could have a significant impact on sentencings. Penalties could include fines, content bans, and jail time.
