The Police have arrested 27 men and one woman, aged between 33 and 71, for their suspected involvement in providing illegal remote 4D/Toto and horse betting services. The persons arrested are believed to belong to a syndicate which purportedly used betting websites and phone messaging applications to facilitate their illegal remote betting activities.
In a two-hour operation conducted on 20 April 2021, more than 180 police officers from the Criminal Investigation Department, Police Intelligence Department and Special Operations Command conducted simultaneous raids at multiple locations island-wide, including Tampines, Punggol, Seng Kang, Hougang and Yishun, resulting in the arrests. During the operation, cash amounting to more than S$1,200,000, as well as items such as computers, mobile phones, betting records were seized. The Police also initiated the freezing of the suspects’ bank accounts for investigations and to prevent dissipation of suspected criminal proceeds. The amount of cash seized for this operation is one of the largest sums seized in a single Police operation against illegal remote gambling.
Six men, aged between 38 and 49, will be charged in court on 21 April 2021 for offences under the Remote Gambling Act 2014. Investigations against the remaining suspects are ongoing.
Under Section 9(1)(d) of the Remote Gambling Act 2014, any person who facilitates participation by others in remote gambling in accordance with arrangements made by a principal of the agent, which may include allowing a person to participate in such remote gambling, shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not less than $20,000 and not more than $200,000, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or both.
Under Section 9(1)(e) of the same Act, any person who assists in providing unlawful remote gambling service for another, shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not less than $20,000 and not more than $200,000, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or both.
Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police How Kwang Hwee said, “This operation is part of Police’s ongoing efforts to disrupt and dismantle criminal syndicates in Singapore. Police officers raided multiple locations island-wide to arrest the syndicate members. The Police will take tough enforcement action against such criminal groups to clamp down on illegal remote gambling and betting activities in Singapore. Those found engaging in illicit activities will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law.”
Portion of Cash Seized
Some of the Exhibits Seized
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
21 April 2021 @ 12:40 PM