Latest news with #GamblingControlAct
New Paper
a day ago
- New Paper
16 arrested for illegal horse betting activities in S'pore-Malaysia police joint operation
Sixteen people were arrested and another 41 are being investigated for illegal horse betting activities, following a joint operation by Singapore and Malaysian police on June 11. Those arrested were aged between 50 and 78, and suspected of being involved with a criminal syndicate that carried out illegal horse betting activities, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in a statement on June 12. During the joint operation, officers from the SPF's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Special Operations Command conducted simultaneous raids at multiple locations across Singapore, which led to the arrest of 14 men and one woman. The officers seized cash, three bank accounts with a total value of about $200,000 that were believed to constitute criminal proceeds, as well as electronic devices such as mobile phones and gambling-related items. In Malaysia, a 53-year-old Singaporean man was arrested during a raid carried out by officers from the Royal Malaysia Police's (RMP) CID. The man will be charged in court on June 13 for offences under the Gambling Control Act. Investigations against the others arrested are ongoing. On June 11, officers from the SPF's CID and land divisions also conducted simultaneous checks at locations across Singapore including King George's Avenue, Jurong Street 24, Ang Mo Kio Street 22, New Upper Changi Road, Yung Sheng Road, Bukit Batok Street 31 and Marsiling Road. A total of 40 men and a woman, aged between 47 and 84, are being investigated for their suspected involvement in illegal horse betting activities. They are believed to have had roles such as illegal bookmakers, runners and punters. The police also seized more than $17,000 in cash, mobile phones and horse betting items. Under the Gambling Control Act, any person found guilty of gambling with an unlawful gambling service provider can be fined up to $10,000, or jailed for up to six months, or both. Under the same Act, anyone found to be involved in conducting an unlawful betting operation as an operator can be fined up to $500,000 and jailed for up to seven years. The police take a serious view of all forms of illegal betting activities and work with counterparts such as the RMP to find criminal syndicates, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigation and Intelligence) Zhang Weihan, who is the director of the CID as well. He also thanked Commissioner Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, director of the Criminal Investigation Department of RMP, and his officers for "their strong support and commitment in tackling transnational organised criminal groups". Mr Zhang said SPF will continue to work with its partners to detect and dismantle criminal syndicates wherever they choose to operate.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
16 arrested, 41 under investigation for illegal horse betting activities after operation by S'pore and M'sia police
16 arrested, 41 under investigation for illegal horse betting activities after operation by S'pore and M'sia police Sixteen people were arrested for illegal horse betting activities following a joint operation by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) on June 11. SPF said those arrested, aged between 50 and 78, were suspected of being involved with a criminal syndicate responsible for illegal horse betting activities. During the joint operation, officers from SPF's Criminal Investigation Department and Special Operations Command conducted simultaneous raids at multiple locations island-wide, leading to the arrest of 14 men and one woman. A 53-year-old Singaporean man was arrested by RMP's Criminal Investigations Department after a concurrent raid in Malaysia. SPF seized cash and three bank accounts with a total estimated value of $200,000 that were believed to constitute criminal proceeds, as well as electronic devices such as mobile phones and gambling-related items. The 53-year-old Singaporean man will be charged in court on June 13 for offences under the Gambling Control Act. Investigations against the other subjects are ongoing. On June 11, officers from the SPF Criminal Investigation Department and the Land Divisions also conducted checks at multiple locations across Singapore, including King George's Avenue, Jurong Street 24, Ang Mo Kio Street 22, New Upper Changi Road, Yung Sheng Road, Bukit Batok Street 31 and Marsiling Road. Forty men and a woman, aged between 47 and 84, are being investigated for their suspected involvement in illegal horse betting activities. They are believed to have had roles such as illegal bookmakers, runners and punters. The police also seized more than $17,000 in cash, mobile phones and horse betting items. Under the Gambling Control Act, anyone who gambles with an unlawful gambling service provider can be fined up to $10,000, or jailed for a term not exceeding six months, or both. Under the same Act, anyone involved in conducting an unlawful betting operation as an operator can be fined up to $500,000 and jailed for up to seven years. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigation and Intelligence) Zhang Weihan, who is also the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, said: "The police take a serious view of all forms of illegal betting activities. We will seek out those involved and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. This includes working with foreign counterparts like the RMP to detect and deter these syndicates." He thanked the Director Criminal Investigation Department of RMP, Commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, and his officers for their "strong support and commitment in tackling transnational organised criminal groups." Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
AsiaOne
2 days ago
- AsiaOne
16 arrested for illegal horse betting in joint operation by Singapore and Malaysia police, Singapore News
The Singapore and Malaysia police arrested 16 people for illegal horse betting activities in a joint operation on Wednesday (June 11). In a statement on Thursday, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said those arrested were suspected of being involved with a criminal syndicate which carried out illegal horse betting activities. They were aged between 50 and 78. Officers from the SPF's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Special Operations Command conducted simultaneous raids at multiple locations across Singapore during the operation, resulting in the arrest of 14 men and one woman. Cash, three bank accounts with a total value of about $200,000 believed to constitute criminal proceeds, as well as electronic devices such as mobile phones and gambling-related items were seized in these raids. Additionally, a 53-year-old Singaporean man was arrested in Malaysia during a raid carried out by officers from the Royal Malaysia Police's (RMP) CID. He will be charged in court on June 13 for offences under the Gambling Control Act. Investigations are ongoing for the remaining individuals who were arrested. Also on Wednesday, officers from the SPF's CID and land divisions conducted simultaneous checks at locations across Singapore including King George's Avenue, Jurong Street 24, Ang Mo Kio Street 22, New Upper Changi Road, Yung Sheng Road, Bukit Batok Street 31 and Marsiling Road. A total of 40 men and one woman, aged between 47 and 84, are being investigated for their suspected involvement as bookmakers, runners and punters in illegal horse betting activities. The police seized over $17,000 in cash, mobile phones, and horse betting items in these checks, said SPF. Under the Gambling Control Act, any person found guilty of gambling with an unlawful service provider faces a fine of up to $10,000 or up to six months in jail, or both. Anyone found to be involved in conducting an unlawful betting operation as an operator can be fined up to $500,000 and jailed for up to seven years. The police take a serious view of all forms of illegal betting activities and work with counterparts such as the RMP to find criminal syndicates, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigation and Intelligence) and CID director Zhang Weihan. [[nid:718974]]
CBS News
19-03-2025
- CBS News
San Francisco officials bust several alleged illegal gambling dens, nightclubs
Several alleged underground gambling dens and unsanctioned nightclubs have been shut down in San Francisco, City Attorney David Chiu announced Wednesday. Three apparently illegal gambling operations and two illegal nightclubs all located in the southeastern portion of the city have been abated after police and city inspectors investigated each property. Chiu's office sent demand letters to each of the property owners, ordering the alleged illegal activities to stop or else they could potentially face a lawsuit. The first of the five properties to be investigated was a commercial building at 5530 Mission St. in the Outer Mission in August 2024. San Francisco police officers became aware of potential unlawful operations occurring when they responded to reports of shots fired, finding cartridge cases inside and outside of the unit. During a search warrant, police apparently found six gambling machines, firearms and ammunition, according to the City Attorney's Office. In 1997, California passed the Gambling Control Act, which restricts legal gambling only to licensed California Lottery retailers, card rooms, race tracks, and casinos operated by Native American tribes. The City Attorney's Office sent the property owners a letter alleging that they were violating the Red Light Abatement Act, a state law that allows authorities to shut down public nuisances including illegal gambling and prostitution occurring on properties. The landlords of 5530 Mission St. immediately evicted the tenants to avoid further legal action. In September 2024, another apparent underground gambling den was found in a residential home at 1201 Cayuga Ave. Police identified potential unlawful activity while executing a search warrant related to an armed robbery that occurred at the residence. Officers seized methamphetamine and located 10 gambling machines, according to the City Attorney's Office. The property owner evicted the tenant after receiving a demand letter to stop the apparent nuisance. The most recent of the five properties ordered to stop alleged illegal activity is located at 57 Leland Ave., a commercial space in the Visitacion Valley area. Until recently, the tenant of the property apparently housed nine gambling machines that were found when police conducted a search warrant in January 2025. Police also allegedly found a stolen firearm and ammunition, according to the City Attorney's Office. The property owner also received a demand letter to stop the apparent nuisance, to which the owner committed to not renew the tenant's lease in June. After the office sent the owner a second demand letter stressing the urgency to prevent any further unlawful activity, the owner promptly evicted the occupants. At 4461 Mission St. in the Excelsior neighborhood, an unsanctioned nightclub was allegedly operating. Police became suspicious after watching a crowd of people enter the commercial building and hearing loud music late into the night in October 2024. On two separate occasions, tenants denied entry to officers and an inspector from the city's Entertainment Commission. The tenants told the police and inspector that a private party was taking place, according to the City Attorney's Office. The property did not have an entertainment permit or an after-hours permit, which made the late-night parties unsanctioned under city code. The tenants left the property after the City Attorney's Office sent the owners a letter ordering that the nuisance be stopped. About 1.5 miles away in the Bernal Heights neighborhood, another alleged illegal nightclub was found in a commercial space at 3261 Mission St. Police and an Entertainment Commission inspector apparently observed a DJ playing loud music, a bar selling alcohol, and two gambling machines. The property did not have proper permits and even advertised its parties on social media. Upon receiving a demand letter, the owners hired a property manager who is currently working with the tenants to bring them into code compliance. "I appreciate that the property owners cooperated with our demands to put an end to this wildly illegal conduct," Chiu said in a press release. "In each of these cases, our Code Enforcement Team worked hard to ensure San Francisco is a safe and enjoyable place to live." Since the property owners were all cooperative with the City Attorney Office's demands, no legal action is being taken, said a spokesperson from the office. "This outcome brings real relief to the neighbors who endured the chaos caused by these illegal gambling dens and nightclubs," Chiu said.
