16 arrested, 41 under investigation for illegal horse betting activities after operation by S'pore and M'sia police
Sixteen people were arrested for illegal horse betting activities following a joint operation by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) on June 11.
SPF said those arrested, aged between 50 and 78, were suspected of being involved with a criminal syndicate responsible for illegal horse betting activities.
During the joint operation, officers from SPF's Criminal Investigation Department and Special Operations Command conducted simultaneous raids at multiple locations island-wide, leading to the arrest of 14 men and one woman.
A 53-year-old Singaporean man was arrested by RMP's Criminal Investigations Department after a concurrent raid in Malaysia.
SPF seized cash and three bank accounts with a total estimated value of $200,000 that were believed to constitute criminal proceeds, as well as electronic devices such as mobile phones and gambling-related items.
The 53-year-old Singaporean man will be charged in court on June 13 for offences under the Gambling Control Act.
Investigations against the other subjects are ongoing.
On June 11, officers from the SPF Criminal Investigation Department and the Land Divisions also conducted checks at multiple locations across Singapore, including King George's Avenue, Jurong Street 24, Ang Mo Kio Street 22, New Upper Changi Road, Yung Sheng Road, Bukit Batok Street 31 and Marsiling Road.
Forty men and a woman, aged between 47 and 84, are being investigated for their suspected involvement in illegal horse betting activities. They are believed to have had roles such as illegal bookmakers, runners and punters.
The police also seized more than $17,000 in cash, mobile phones and horse betting items.
Under the Gambling Control Act, anyone who gambles with an unlawful gambling service provider can be fined up to $10,000, or jailed for a term not exceeding six months, or both. Under the same Act, anyone involved in conducting an unlawful betting operation as an operator can be fined up to $500,000 and jailed for up to seven years.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigation and Intelligence) Zhang Weihan, who is also the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, said: "The police take a serious view of all forms of illegal betting activities. We will seek out those involved and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. This includes working with foreign counterparts like the RMP to detect and deter these syndicates."
He thanked the Director Criminal Investigation Department of RMP, Commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, and his officers for their "strong support and commitment in tackling transnational organised criminal groups."
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