Singapore: 158 arrested over illegal horse racing betting
Police carried out raids in multiple locations, including Telok Blangah Crescent, Bukit Merah View and Woodlands.
Singapore.- 158 people have appeared in court charged over alleged involvement in illegal horse racing betting.
The Criminal Investigation Department together with seven police land divisions carried out raids between April 24 and June 6, arresting 147 men and 11 women.
Those arrested are aged between 36 and 83. According to local media, police seized mobile phones, six figures in cash and what seemed to be betting records.
Illegal gambling is a serious offence in Singapore. If found guilty, those arrested could face a fine or jail time.
Those arrested were also accused of breaching the social distancing rules as Singapore remains under Covid-19 countermeasures.
Gatherings of more than two people are prohibited until June 13. Those who break the rules can be fined up to SGD10,000 or jailed for up to six months. More than 600 fines have been issued.
Police said: “Members of the public are advised to steer clear of all forms of illegal gambling activities and to take the prevailing safe distancing measures seriously.”
In March, Six men appeared in court charged with alleged involvement in an illegal gambling syndicate.
The men were accused of having been members of an organised criminal group that managed an illegal gambling den. All faced gambling-related charges, but some were also accused of drug trafficking and other crimes.
They were among 66 people who have been arrested since October 2018, when the Singapore police force launched a nationwide crackdown on criminal syndicates.
Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble delayed
Due to a rise in Covid-19 cases, the long-awaited Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble has been delayed until further notice.
In April, the Ministry of Transport announced that an air travel bubble with Hong Kong was to begin on May 26. However, Singapore registered new cases of Covid-19, leading to the plans to be put back.
One of the main requirements for the travel bubble was that the two countries should have zero cases of Covid-19. Hong Kong has met the criteria, but the emergence of new cases in Singapore ruled out the arrangement for now.
Marina Bay Sands (MBS) tested 7,450 team members and 800 contractors for Covid-19 between May 21 and May 26 after two casino dealers tested positive for Covid-19.
