4 men involved in transnational gambling ring handed to S’pore police after being nabbed in Malaysia

JOHOR BAHRU – Four Singaporean men arrested in Johor Bahru on July 1 have been handed over to the Singapore police for further investigation and action.

The strong collaboration between the Malaysian and Singapore police has led to the crippling of a transnational gambling syndicate they were involved in, said Commissioner Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain.

The Bukit Aman Crime Investigation Department (CID) director said such cooperation was the way forward in tackling cybercrimes, as the nature of such crimes is borderless.

“We need to work together closely and share information to fight cybercrimes.

“The arrest of Singaporeans and Malaysians involved in an online gambling syndicate recently was a manifestation of the good working relationship between the police from both countries,” he said at a joint press conference at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar customs, immigration and quarantine complex on July 9.

Singapore’s acting deputy commissioner of police (investigation and intelligence) and concurrent CID director Zhang Weihan was also present.

In a joint operation by the Singapore Police Force and the Royal Malaysia Police between June 30 and July 1, a total of 41 men and two women were arrested for their suspected involvement in an organised criminal group responsible for unlawful remote betting operations.

Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily said that of the total, six individuals were arrested in Johor Bahru on July 1. Four were Singaporean men and two were local women.

He said the Singaporean men, aged 41 to 60, had prior criminal records in Singapore for drugs, illegal gambling, involvement in secret societies and rioting. The two Malaysian women, aged 29 and 34, had no prior criminal records.

“We believe the local women were facilitators in the online gambling outfit as its main operation was in Singapore. They used Malaysia as their counting centre to collect the bets on activities such as 4-D and horse racing.

“The suspects also used Singapore telecommunication service providers to elude the authorities, so they were not monitored by the local police and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission,” he added.

He said all six individuals had been charged and fined under Section 6(1) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 on July 8.

“The four Singaporeans have also been handed over to the Singapore police on July 9 for further investigation and action,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mr Zhang thanked his Malaysian counterpart for their help in ensuring a successful operation.

Asked if there were other syndicate members still at large, he said he was unable to disclose such information.

“Our investigation is ongoing and if there is any information relevant to Malaysia, we will share and collectively progress (with it),” he said.

He added that the Singapore police also issued prohibition of disposal orders for seven properties with an estimated value of more than $10.7 million, and seized cash, jewellery, luxury watches and more than 40 bank accounts with a total estimated value of nearly $4 million. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK