The Criminal Investigation Department and Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) conducted a joint investigation against a 62-year-old man, Lien Sheong Chye (Lien), for providing assistance to an illegal bookmaker to accept bets online.
Investigations revealed that Lien assisted Terence Voo (Voo) to obtain an online account with the website, www.greysnow.com, to receive soccer bets illegally. Under the arrangement, Voo would recruit punters to place soccer bets online through his account. Voo also agreed to share the winnings or losses from the punters’ bets with Lien.
On 16 February 2017, Lien was sentenced to an imprisonment term of 12 weeks for intentionally aiding another to act as a bookmaker to accept bets, under Section 5(3)(a) of the Betting Act, read with Section 109 of the Penal Code.
CAD’s financial investigations revealed that between 1 January 2012 and 10 July 2014, Lien accumulated unexplained wealth of $258,666.14, which is assessed to be benefits derived by him from gambling-related offences. Following his conviction, the Prosecution obtained a confiscation order from the High Court against Lien for the sum of $258,666.14, which represents his benefits from criminal conduct.
The Police will not hesitate to take necessary action to seek for the confiscation of benefits derived from criminal conduct and deny criminals of their ill-gotten gains. The Police will also continue to take tough enforcement action against anyone involved in illegal betting activities, regardless of their roles, and ensure that criminals face the full brunt of the law. Members of the public are advised to steer clear of all forms of illegal gambling.
Acting as a bookmaker is a serious offence under the Second Schedule of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act. Under Section 5(1) of the same Act, any person who is convicted of a serious offence is liable to have the benefits derived by him from criminal conduct confiscated.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
26 August 2019 @ 6:10 PM