\n<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE: An illegal bookmaker set up a betting operation at a Housing and Development Board (HDB) block in Jurong West, collecting bets from punters on horse races in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
Ng Sea Beng, a 69-year-old Singaporean, was nabbed by the police in possession of over S$4,000 (US$3,100) in cash, a pen and a betting slip.<\/p>\n
Ng was jailed for four weeks on Tuesday (Jul 21) after pleading guilty to one count under the Gambling Control Act for conducting a betting operation.<\/p>\n
The court heard that Ng devised a plan to conduct the illegal operation in May 2026.<\/p>\n
He intended to collect bets from people near Block 967B, Jurong West Street 93, as he knew some people who frequented the area and would be interested in placing bets.<\/p>\n
He also knew that there were tables and chairs there which would make it conducive to host a gathering.<\/p>\n
As Ng had acted as an illegal bookie in the past, he had past contacts who would be interested in placing bets with him.<\/p>\n
On May 6 this year, Ng went to the block and took with him a pen, a betting slip and cash of S$2,500 for operating capital.<\/p>\n
He then began looking for people to place bets with him on horse races conducted in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
Singapore held its last horse race in October 2024.<\/p>\n
Ng collected bets from at least three people for at least five horse races over two hours, collecting cash earnings of S$1,550.<\/p>\n
Police officers on duty arrived at the location at about 8pm and apprehended Ng, along with three other people who were watching horse races with Ng.<\/p>\n
They seized the cash and other items Ng had on him.<\/p>\n
The prosecutor sought between four and eight weeks’ jail for Ng, noting that the offence was not syndicated and not difficult to detect since it was in a public place.<\/p>\n
Ng, who was unrepresented, told the court via a Hokkien interpreter that he was old and had “leg issues”.<\/p>\n
He added that he could not walk steadily and falls down easily.<\/p>\n
The judge told him that this offence carries a mandatory jail term. However, he noted that the operation was “relatively unsophisticated” and a relatively small amount of bets and capital were involved.<\/p>\n
For conducting a betting operation, Ng could have been jailed for up to five years, fined up to S$200,000, or both.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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