DHAKA: Police in Singapore have arrested 14 people believed to be part of an organised crime gang involved in global football match-fixing.

The 12 men and two women were detained during a series of raids, European and Singaporean officials said.

Police said those arrested include the alleged "mastermind" but did not release any names.

Between 2008 and 2011, investigators said they had identified 680 suspicious games, 380 of them in Europe.

The matches included World Cup qualifiers and the European Champions league.

European officials said the matches had been targeted by a Singapore-based betting cartel whose illegal activities stretched to players, referees and officials across the world.

Police did not give the nationalities of those arrested. They said that five - including the suspected leader - were being held for further questioning while the rest would be released on bail.

"Police confirm that the suspected leader and several other individuals who are the subject of ongoing investigations in other jurisdictions for match fixing were among the persons arrested," said a joint statement by Singapore police agencies on Wednesday.

"The arrested persons are being investigated for offences related to match fixing activities under the Prevention of Corruption Act (Chapter 241) and for their involvement in organised crime activities," the statement said.

Police did not confirm whether Dan Tan, a Singapore resident wanted for alleged match-fixing in Italy and Hungary, was amongst those arrested.

Interpol and the EU law enforcement agency Europol have both been involved in the investigation.

Following the arrests, Interpol Secretary General Ronald K Noble said: "Singaporean authorities have taken an important step in cracking down on an international match-fixing syndicate by arresting the main suspects in the case, including the suspected mastermind.``

Source: BBC
BDST: 1050 HRS, SEP 19, 2013
RS/BSK