SINGAPORE: A Singaporean alleged football matchfixer and several co-conspirators of different nationalities were arrested yesterday.
In a statement, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said it had been proactively monitoring football match-fixing activities in Singapore, particularly with the kick-off of the 28th South East Asian (SEA) Games football tournament scheduled to commence Friday.
Following information received, the CPIB mounted an operation from the late hours of Thursday to the early hours of Friday, resulting in the arrests.
CPIB said some members from the Timor Leste SEA Games football team were also assisting the bureau in the investigations under the Prevention of Corruption Act (Chapter 241).
Meanwhile, Singapore Southeast Asian Games Organising Committee (Singsoc) in the statement issued today, reiterated that the Group B football match between Malaysia and Timor Leste at Bishan Stadium, tomorrow will continue as planned.
It said the result was reached after they held a meeting with the Timor Leste National Olympic Committee (NOC) officials besides consulting with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) as well as the South East Asian Games Federation (SEAGF).
“The SEAGF and Singsoc take a firm view on match fixing and any action by unscrupulous persons that bring the 28th SEA Games into disrepute. We will work closely with the Singapore authorities to uncover such intentions,” Singsoc added. — Bernama