Police nab 11 suspects for remote gambling

The police have arrested nine men and two women suspected of offering remote gambling services in an islandwide crime blitz on Sunday.

The 11 suspects allegedly belong to the first syndicate to be investigated under the Remote Gambling Act, which was passed in October last year and took effect in February.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects, aged between 26 and 51, are believed to have collected illegal bets amounting to about $3 million over the last two weeks.

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers on Sunday conducted raids in several locations in Singapore, including Balestier, Hougang, Tiong Bahru, Tanjong Pagar, Newton and Woodlands.

Cash amounting to about $215,000, computers, mobile phones and documents, such as betting records and bank transaction record booklets, were seized in the operation.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations and Intelligence) and director of the CID Tan Chye Hee said yesterday: "Police are determined to stamp out unlawful remote gambling and will continue to take tough enforcement actions against those who flout the law."

Under the Remote Gambling Act, any person convicted of providing unlawful remote gambling services for another may be fined between $20,000 and $200,000 or jailed for up to five years, or both.

The Remote Gambling Act criminalises a host of remote gambling activities, including phone betting. Police investigations are ongoing.

calyang@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on May 05, 2015.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.