The Hong Kong authorities have detained a total of 19 individuals in connection to a significant investigation into an alleged covert betting ring accused of corrupting local football games and running illegal bookmaking operations.
The joint effort, known as Operation Double Edged, was executed on June 23, by the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Hong Kong Police.
The investigators believe the members of this group violated the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance in Hong Kong by giving bribes to players in order to sway the outcomes of games in their favour.
The investigation resulted in a search of an office, a private residence, and a football club office located in Mong Kok. They were able to recover HKD $120,000 cash, betting slips, a laptop computer, and other electronics from these locations.
According to Bill Ng Siu kei, head investigator with the ICAC, the syndicate used personal relationships with people involved in football in Hong Kong in order to recruit players and bettors who agreed to fix games.
Police Superintendent Chiew Tsi-huen also mentioned that the leader of the syndicate had created numerous accounts with illegal online betting platforms which were dispersed among various associates, including players, who took bets and managed betting funds.
The authorities believe the syndicate had approximately HKD $6 million (USD $770,000) in illegal bets placed on domestic and world football matches, including those associated with FIFA World Cup. Police believe the syndicate is now defunct.
Officials also reminded the public that operating an illegal bookmaking business carries penalties of up to HK$5 million (US$642,000) in fines and seven years’ imprisonment under Hong Kong’s Gambling Ordinance.