Singapore: Match-Fixing Ring Busted

In a joint operation conducted by  the Singapore Police Force's Criminal Investigation Department and the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, and aided by the Police Intelligence Department, a series of raids took place across Singapore on the morning of Sept. 17.  Authorities did not disclose the names of the 12 male and two female suspects, although The Wall Street Journal reported that Dan Tan Seet Eng, a known player in global match-fixing, was among those captured.

According to police, Tan, who is wanted in Italy and Hungary for match-fixing, has been questioned and cooperating with Singaporean law enforcement for months.  Authorities confirmed that some of the suspects are "the subject of ongoing investigations in other jurisdictions for match-fixing activities," reports CNN.

Ronald K. Noble, INTERPOL Secretary General, described the arrests as "an important step in cracking down on an international match-fixing syndicate by arresting the main suspects in the case, including the suspected mastermind.

"No person should doubt Singapore's commitment to fighting match-fixing," he added.  Although Singapore is considered one of the world's least corrupt nations, EUROPOL, the European Union’s law enforcement agency, says it is home to an organized crime syndicate involved in global match-fixing.

Chris Eaton, former head of security at FIFA, football's global administrator, congratulated Singaporean authorities on the operation but added, "There is still more to do. There are other gangs."