The Police have arrested five men and one woman, aged between 28 and 38, for their suspected involvement in providing remote gambling services as well as participating in remote gambling.
In an operation mounted on 16 August 2017, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) conducted a raid at an entertainment outlet along Orchard Road, resulting in the arrests. During the operation, cash amounting to about S$4000/-, a computer and mobile phones were seized as case exhibits.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the six suspects, who were the management and staff of the said entertainment outlet, had facilitated remote gambling of a game called “Niu Niu” which operates on the WeChat platform. The suspects would gather like-minded gamblers to join in the illegal remote gambling sessions and earned commission from the turnover of the bets.
Investigations against all the suspects are ongoing.
Under the Remote Gambling Act 2014, any individual who, in Singapore, gambles using remote communication; and using a remote gambling service that is not provided by an exempt operator; shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both. Any person who provides unlawful remote gambling services for another shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not less than $20,000 and not more than $200,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both.
The Police take a serious view of such activities and will continue to take tough enforcement actions against those who provide remote gambling facilitates as well as those who engage in remote gambling. Members of public are advised to resist the temptation of remote gambling.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
18 August 2017 @ 8:15 AM