$1.4m seized as police cripple illegal soccer betting syndicate
PUBLISHED ONMay 19, 2014 1:54 PM
SINGAPORE - 18 people were arrested between Monday and Tuesday for illegal bookmaking activities in an islandwide sting.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) conducted multiple raids at various locations in Bukit Panjang, Marsiling, Ang Mo Kio, Woodlands,
Whampoa, Telok Blangah, Bedok and Sentosa.
Cash amounting to about S$1.4 million dollars, as well as an array of computers, handphones and documents such as betting records and bank transaction records were also seized during the raids.
The suspects, 16 men and 2 women aged between 30 and 65, are believed to have received illegal soccer bets amounting to an estimated $8 million in the last 2 weeks.
Under the Betting Act, Chapter 21, any person who bets with a bookmaker may be fined up to $5,000, or jailed for up tp 6 months, or both.
Anyone found to be involved in bookmaking may face a fine between $20,000 and $200,000, and may also be jailed for up to 5 years.
Head of the Specialised Crime Branch of CID, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Kenny Tan advises the public to steer clear of illegal betting websites.