The Police will be charging six men, aged between 48 and 64, on 10 March 2021 for their alleged involvement in an Organised Criminal Group (OCG) which was extensively engaged in gambling activities.
This is the third OCG identified for prosecution for various offences under the Organised Crime Act (OCA), which came into force on 1 June 2016. The six men were among the 66 persons arrested in a Police operation targeting criminal syndicates in October 2018.
Five of these six individuals were first charged on 25 October 2018 for offences under the Common Gaming Houses Act (CGHA). On 10 March 2021, these five men will be charged for offences under the Organised Crime Act (OCA) and the Societies Act as well as for additional offences under the CGHA. Two of the five men will be charged for additional offences under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act. The sixth man will be charged for offences under the OCA as well as 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, imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or both. 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.
Under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act, any person who converts or transfers any benefits from criminal conduct or removes it from jurisdiction shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $500,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or both.
Under the Societies Act, anyone found guilty of being a member of an unlawful society shall be liable to a fine not exceeding $5,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years, or both.
The Police will continue to clamp down on criminal activities. Those involved in organised crime, illegal gambling or secret society activities will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
09 March 2021 @ 10:40 PM