Singapore: 19 investigated for illegal gambling
Police in Singapore are investigating 19 people for alleged involvement in illegal gambling activities.
Singapore.- Police are investigating 19 people for suspected involvement in illegal gambling activities and illegal employment following two raids. On December 4, the police raided an apartment and found two people, aged 77 and 78, who are suspected of being bookmakers.
During the raid police also found four people who were betting. All of them are being investigated. Police seized money, mobile phones and betting equipment.
On December 15, officers carried out another raid and found 21 people at a residential unit in Toh Crescent in Loyang. Police arrested 13 people for violating the “Foreign Workers Employment Law” and for conducting illegal gambling activities. Police seized a poker table and other gambling equipment.
In Singapore, bookmakers may be fined $20,000 to $200,000 and can be sentenced to a maximum of five years in jail. Those who place bets with a bookmaker may be fined up to $5,000 and receive up to six months in jail, or both.
Those who operate illegal casinos can be fined $5,000 to $50,000 and can be sentenced to up to three years in jail. Those who gamble in a common gaming house may be fined up to $5,000 and/or imprisoned for up to six months.
The police stated that they will take severe enforcement actions against crimes and illegal activities and advised the public to take Covid-19 safe distance measures seriously.
A week ago, police in Singapore revealed that 136 people had been placed under investigation for a range of crimes ranging from illegal gambling to drug possession following a week of raids. Other crimes being investigated include loan shark operations and loan fraud.
Of those arrested, 25 men and 3 women, aged between 30 and 77, are under investigation for crimes under the Gaming Act and the Joint Gaming Company Ac.
In September, police arrested seven people for alleged gambling activities related to horse race betting. Officers said that one of those arrested was a bookmaker while a 49-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of having supplied unlawful remote betting services.
