Police cripple 2 football betting syndicates & arrest 12 during 15-hour blitz

[Medusa]

Police cripple 2 football betting syndicates & arrest 12 during 15-hour blitz
By Mustafa Shafawi | Posted: 29 June 2010 1952 hrs
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SINGAPORE: Police crippled two illegal football betting syndicates in a 15-hour blitz on Monday.

12 persons were arrested including two of the syndicate leaders.

Most of them were men.

Raids were conducted by officers from the Police Intelligence Department (PID) and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Bedok, Bukit Batok, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Circuit Road, Farrer Park, Jurong West, Tampines, Telok Kurau, Sengkang, Simei and Yishun.

In the raids, cash amounting to about S$143,600, 18 mobile phones, nine laptop computers, 4 ATM cards, electronic data storage and communication devices were seized.

Also seized were bank transactions slips, passbooks and betting records.

Preliminary investigation revealed that one syndicate was estimated to have received bets of about S$250,000 for the World Cup so far, while the other syndicate was estimated to have collected bets of more than S$400,000.

Bets were also accepted through SMS between punters and syndicate members.

The suspects conducted their betting activities through online betting websites. - CNA/vm

 

[Shin Orochi]

Betting syndicates busted


Jun 30, 2010
Betting syndicates busted

<!-- by line --> By Carmen Woo
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<!-- end left side bar --> <!-- story content : start --> POLICE have busted two illegal soccer betting syndicates and arrested 12, two of whom are believed to be the ring leaders. The dozen, including two women, were nabbed in a 15-hour operation on Monday. Cash amounting to about $143,600, 18 mobile phones, nine laptop computers, 4 ATM cards, electronic data storage and communication devices, as well as bank transactions slips, passbooks and betting records were seized in the raids.

Investigation revealed that both syndicates were estimated to have received bets amounting to about $650,000 for the World Cup so far. Punters would place bets via SMSes and the betting activities were said to be carried out online. Assistant Director of the Specialised Crime Division, Superintendent of Police Goh Lam Kiong said: 'This operation shows that the Police are serious about stamping out illegal soccer betting syndicates.

Punters who assume that they can continue to participate in such activities without being caught should think twice. 'We will come down on them regarless of whether they are individuals betting illegally or syndicates collecting illegal bets.' Under the Betting Act, anyone who bets with a bookmaker faces a fine of up to $5,000, or jail of up to six months, or both, if convicted. Offenders found to be involved in bookmaking can be fined between $20,000 and $200,000, and jailed for up to five years.