In the span of three days, Police have busted another illegal soccer betting syndicate. Nine Singaporean men, aged between 24 to 30 years old, were arrested in an operation by police officers from the Criminal Investigation Department and the Police Intelligence Department which ended this morning.

Investigations revealed that six of the suspects are believed to be members of an illegal online soccer betting syndicate. The other three suspects are believed to be punters who placed bets with the syndicate.

Cash, mobile phones, ATM cards, bank books, computers, modems, believed to be related to the collection of bets were also seized in the course of the operation. The estimated value of the total bets collected by this syndicate during the World Cup period is believed to be about S$800, 000. Police investigations are ongoing.

The operation is part of ongoing Police efforts to curb illegal soccer betting in Singapore. To date, Police have arrested 36 persons during this World Cup season for illegal football betting, with estimated illegal bets amounting to nearly S$1.5 million.

Assistant Director of the Specialised Crime Division, CID , Superintendent of Police Goh Lam Kiong, said, “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.”

Under the Betting Act, Chapter 21, any person who bets with a bookmaker is liable on conviction to a fine up to a maximum of $5,000, or to imprisonment of up to a maximum of six months, or both. Any person who is found to be involved in bookmaking is liable on conviction to a fine between $20,000 and $200,000, and shall also be punished with imprisonment for up to five years.