Malaysia Police Bust Two Euro 2012 Illegal Online Betting Syndicates

KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 (Bernama) -- Only three days into Euro 2012, but the police have detained eight men, believed to be members of two illegal online football betting syndicates, in Penang on Sunday. The syndicates, said to be operating in George Town and Bukit Mertajam, were master-minded by two Malaysians, aged 26 and 75, who were believed to have reaped huge profits with the bets reaching as high as RM200,000 (US$63,071.05) each. In the raids, police also seized several handphones, laptops, match schedule and betting receipts, as well as cash. Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department Director Mohd Bakri Zinin, during a media conference at Bukit Aman here Monday, confirmed the arrest and said more arrest were expected to be made. He said police also did no rule out the possibility of the syndicates being master-minded by the same people involved in illegal betting during the World Cup 2010. During the World Cup season, Mohd Bakri said, police conducted 270 raids on illegal football betting syndicates, involving bets worth RM419.2 million (US$132.17 million). He said police also detained 227 people, including 17 women, nationwide during the World Cup season. Now with Euro 2012, Mohd Bakri said the police would be working closely with the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission, as well as Interpol, to monitor and curb illegal gambling activities. Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Social Development, Crime Prevention and Anti-Drugs Voluntary Organisation (Pencegah) president, Jeevan S.Ramamurthy, said those who borrowed money from "Ah Long" (loan sharks) to gamble were putting their life at stake. He advised the public against getting involved in illegal gambling activities. -- BERNAMA