Eight arrested over illegal football bookmaking

ALL content used in this not-for-profit blog remain the property of their respective owners.
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/eight-arrested-over-illegal-football-bookmaking-punting

Eight men have been arrested for their suspected involvement in illegal football bookmaking and punting activities, the police said yesterday.

These arrests come after islandwide operations conducted on Tuesday and yesterday in Clementi West, Jelapang Road, Tampines, Bedok Central, Jalan Kembangan, Boon Tiong Road, Hougang, Upper Boon Keng Road and Jalan Chermat.

They follow the arrests made last month of 15 people after an operation on June 21, in connection with illegal football bookmaking and punting activities understood to be linked to the ongoing World Cup.

About S$350,000 in cash, an array of computers, mobile phones and other documents such as betting records and bank transaction record booklets were seized. Preliminary investigations at the time revealed that illegal bets amounting to about S$800,000 were allegedly received.

In the latest round of arrests, cash amounting to about S$190,000 as well as computers, laptops, mobile phones and documents such as betting records were seized.

The suspects are believed to have received bets amounting to about S$750,000 in the past two weeks, the police said in a statement.

The operation, which involved officers from the Criminal Investigation Department and the Police Intelligence Department, was part of the police’s ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal football betting activities.

Investigations into the suspects, who are aged between 28 and 48, are ongoing.

If found guilty, those who bet with a bookmaker may be fined up to S$5,000 and could be jailed for up to six months. Those involved in bookmaking may be fined up to S$200,000 and imprisoned for up to five years.