Football betting ring busted

[konglanjiaowei]

Jul 9, 2010
Football betting ring busted

<!-- by line --> By Bryan Huang
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Cash, mobile phones, ATM cards, bank books, computers and modems, believed to be related to the collection of bets, were also seized. -- PHOTO: SPF

NINE Singaporean men were arrested when police busted another illegal football betting syndicate, in an operation which ended on Friday morning. The syndicate is believed to have collected an estimated $800,000 in bets during the World Cup period, a police statement said.

Cash, mobile phones, ATM cards, bank books, computers and modems, believed to be related to the collection of bets, were also seized. Of the nine suspects, ages 24 to 30, six are believed to be members of an illegal online football betting syndicate.

The other three are believed to be punters who placed bets with the syndicate, the police said. The statement said the operation was part of ongoing police efforts to curb illegal football betting in Singapore. Thirty-six people have been nabbed this World Cup, with the estimated illegal bets amounting to nearly $1.5 million.

'This series of operations shows that we are serious about clamping down on illegal betting activities. We will not hesitate to take action against those involved in such activities, regardless of their role,' said Superintendent Goh Lam Kiong, Assistant Director of Criminal Investigation Department's Specialised Crime Division.