A Singaporean alleged match-fixer and several “co-conspirators” of different nationalities have been arrested in a match-fixing operation, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) announced on Friday (May 29).
The arrests were conducted during an operation that began late in the evening on Thursday and lasted through the morning, CPIB said in a press release. The authorities added that some members of the Timor Leste SEA Games football team, who are scheduled to play against Malaysia on Saturday evening, are also assisting them in investigations.
Investigations are still ongoing against those arrested, for offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, according to CPIB. Channel NewsAsia understands that some of the suspects will be charged in court on Saturday.
CPIB said the operation was mounted in response to information received and that authorities had been “proactively monitoring” football match-fixing activities in Singapore particularly with the kick-off of the 28th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games commencing on Friday.
In a statement, the South East Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) and the Singapore Southeast Asian Games Organising Committee (SINGSOC) confirmed that the SEA Games football matches will continue as planned and Timor Leste will play against Malaysia in their opening group match on Saturday.
“We met with the Timor Leste National Olympic Committee (NOC) officials to confer on the continuing participation of their football team. In consultation with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), SEAGF and SINGSOC have accepted their decision to proceed,” they said in a statement.
“The SEAGF and SINGSOC take a firm view on match fixing and any actions by unscrupulous persons that bring the 28th SEA Games into disrepute. We will work closely with the Singapore authorities to uncover such intentions.”
The news came two days after several high-ranking football officials, including two current vice-presidents of football governing body FIFA, were indicted on federal corruption charges. While FIFA President Sepp Blatter was not among those arrested, there has been international discussion on whether he should step down before the next World Cup tournament.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
