2 days ago
Nine arrested in Singapore over alleged basketball match-fixing scandal
SINGAPORE: Nine individuals have been arrested by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) for their suspected involvement in fixing matches in Singapore's 2025 K Star National Basketball League Division 1.
The arrests, announced on 19 August, involved eight Singaporeans and one permanent resident, aged between 19 and 35 years old.
CPIB confirmed that some of those arrested were players from teams competing in the league.
The basketball tournament, organised by the Basketball Association of Singapore (BAS), runs from 14 July to 30 August.
The Division 1 competition comprises 10 teams, including Adroit, SBA, Tagawa, Chong Ghee, Eng Tat Hornets, SG Basketball, Siglap Basketball Club, Xin Hua Tung San, and Tong Whye.
According to CPIB, one of the games suspected of being manipulated took place on 1 August between Tagawa and Tong Whye.
In that match, Tagawa defeated Tong Whye 66–43, as reported in a BAS Facebook update.
Investigations into the alleged offences are being conducted under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The league offers cash prizes of S$4,000, S$2,000, and S$1,000 for the top three teams, adding a financial incentive for performance.
Authorities did not specify whether these rewards are linked to the ongoing probe.
In a statement, CPIB reiterated Singapore's zero-tolerance approach to corruption.
'CPIB will not hesitate to take firm enforcement action against any parties involved, if they have given, received, or offered bribes to fix a match,' the bureau said.
