SINGAPORE - Sixteen people were arrested and another 41 are being investigated for illegal horse betting activities, following a joint operation by Singapore and Malaysian police on June 11.

Those arrested were aged between 50 and 78, and suspected of being involved with a criminal syndicate that carried out illegal horse betting activities, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in a statement on June 12.

During the joint operation, officers from the SPF’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Special Operations Command conducted simultaneous raids at multiple locations across Singapore, which led to the arrest of 14 men and one woman.

The officers seized cash, three bank accounts with a total value of about $200,000 that were believed to constitute criminal proceeds, as well as electronic devices such as mobile phones and gambling-related items.

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In Malaysia, a 53-year-old Singaporean man was arrested during a raid carried out by officers from the Royal Malaysia Police’s (RMP) CID. The man will be charged in court on June 13 for offences under the Gambling Control Act.

Investigations against the others arrested are ongoing.

On June 11, officers from the SPF’s CID and land divisions also conducted simultaneous checks at 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.

A total of 40 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.

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Under the Gambling Control Act, any person found guilty of gambling with an unlawful gambling service provider can be fined up to $10,000, or jailed for up to six months, or both. Under the same Act, anyone found to be involved in conducting an unlawful betting operation as an operator can be fined up to $500,000 and jailed for up to seven years.

The police take a serious view of all forms of illegal betting activities and work with counterparts such as the RMP to find criminal syndicates, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigation and Intelligence) Zhang Weihan, who is the director of the CID as well.

He also thanked Commissioner Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, director of the Criminal Investigation Department of RMP, and his officers for “their strong support and commitment in tackling transnational organised criminal groups”.

Mr Zhang said SPF will continue to work with its partners to detect and dismantle criminal syndicates wherever they choose to operate.

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction

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