15 arrested for alleged involvement in soccer bookmaking and punting

SINGAPORE - Police have arrested 15 suspects comprising 14 men and one woman, aged between 23 and 70, for their suspected involvement with illegal soccer bookmaking and punting activities.

During an operation on Saturday, the police conducted multiple raids at various locations in Singapore, including Choa Chu Kang, Teck Whye, Jurong East, Boon Lay, Geylang, Sengkang, Kim Keat, Bendemeer, Whampoa and Toa Payoh, resulting in the arrests.

Cash amounting to about $350,000, an array of computers, mobile phones and other documents such as betting records and bank transaction record booklets were also seized.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are believed to have received illegal bets amounting to about $800,000 over the past two weeks.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Under the Betting Act, Chapter 21, any person who bets with a bookmaker shall be liable, on convictio,n to a fine not exceeding $5,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both. Any person who is found to be involved in bookmaking shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine of no less than $20,000 and not more than $200,000, and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.