The Police will be charging six men and one woman, aged between 32 and 53, on 1 April 2020, for their alleged involvement in an Organised Criminal Group (OCG) which extensively engaged in gambling activities.
This is the second OCG identified for prosecution for various offences under the Organised Crime Act (OCA), which came into force on 1 June 2016. These seven suspects were among the 66 arrested in October 2018 in an operation conducted by the Police against criminal syndicates.
Four of these seven suspects were first charged on 25 October 2018 for offences under the Common Gaming Houses Act (CGHA).
On 1 April 2020, the seven suspects will be charged in court for various offences under the OCA, as well as for offences under the CGHA.
Under the OCA, it is an offence to be a member of an OCG. Any person who is or acts as a member of a locally-linked OCG shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or to both. It is also an offence to recruit another person to become a member for an OCG, and any person convicted for the offence is liable for a fine not exceeding $250,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both, and in any other case, to a fine not exceeding $500,000. Any person found guilty of recruiting a vulnerable person or person below 21 years of age shall be liable for a fine not exceeding $350,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both, and in any other case, to a fine not exceeding $700,000. It is also illegal to instruct another person to commit offences for an OCG, and the offender will face enhanced punishments prescribed for the offence instructed.
Six of the seven suspects will face additional charges for secret society activities, which is an offence under the Societies Act. The offence of being a member of an unlawful society carries a fine not exceeding $5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or both.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
31 March 2020 @ 7:10 PM