KUCHING, May 30 -- Police have arrested nine men aged between 23 and 35 for their alleged involvement in an armed riot at a snooker club in Debak, Betong, on Friday morning.

Betong district police chief DSP Wan Mohamad Ali Wan Malek said the suspects were arrested at several locations in Pusa and Debak between 2.30pm and 4pm.

"The arrests were made following a police report on the incident lodged earlier at 11.56am.

"All suspects are now remanded until June 2 to assist in investigations," he said in a statement.

Wan Mohamad Ali said two of the suspects were found to have prior records related to drug abuse, while only one of the nine tested positive for ketamine.

Based on initial investigations, he said the incident stemmed from a di...