Following a focused enforcement operation held from May 21 to May 29, the Singapore police has identified 30 individuals linked to illegal online betting and financial crimes and initiated investigations into their actions.
The operation was organized by the Specialized Crime Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department, and resulted in the arrest of 21 males and 9 females aged from 17 to 79 and the seizure of approximately S$19,000 worth of suspicious funds.
According to information provided to the police, five of those arrested are believed to have placed bets with illicit online bookies. These individuals will be charged under the Gambling Control Act of 2022, which has maximum penalties of S$10,000 in fines or up to six months in jail.
The other 25 suspects will be charged with selling or giving personal or corporate bank accounts to criminal enterprises.
The investigation will also include potential violations of the Computer Misuse Act of 1993, the Penal Code and the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes Act of 1992.
Potential punishments will vary depending on the nature of the alleged crime. Unauthorized access or disclosure of your digital identifiers such as your Singpass can result in a maximum of three years in prison and fines while money laundering charges can have maximum terms of imprisonment of 10 years and maximum fines of S$500,000.
At the time of the police announcement, no formal charges had been confirmed.
