Football: Three match officials charged in S'pore court

Gestapo · Apr 4, 2013

Football: Three match officials charged in S'pore court

Three match officials, one referee and two assistant referee, have been charged with corruptly receiving gratification in the form of free sexual services.

CPIB Building in Singapore

SINGAPORE: Three match officials have been charged in a Singapore court with corruptly receiving gratification in the form of free sexual services.

The three match officials, one referee and two assistant referees, were assigned to officiate an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup match between Tampines Rovers and East Bengal which was scheduled to be played on 3 April 2013.

The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), acting on prior information, alerted the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and the three match officials were replaced before the start of the match.

- CNA/jc

Gestapo · Apr 4, 2013

Football: Lebanese officials charged with receiving sexual bribes

Lebanese referee Ali Sabbagh, was one of the three who were picked up by CPIB.

Reuters
Thursday, Apr 04, 2013

SINGAPORE - Three Lebanese football officials have been charged with receiving sexual bribes to fix an AFC Cup match in Singapore, a government law-enforcement agency of the island city-state said on Thursday.

Referee Ali Sabbagh and assistant referees Ali Eid and Abdallah Taleb were hastily replaced by officials from Thailand and Malaysia for Tampines Rovers' 4-2 defeat by East Bengal of India on Wednesday.

The Lebanese trio were taken to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) instead and appeared in a Singapore court on Thursday.

"Ali Sabbagh, Ali Eid and Abdallah Taleb were produced in court, each with a charge of one count of corruptly receiving gratification, in the form of free sexual service," the CPIB said in a statement.

"Singapore has always adopted a zero tolerance approach towards corruption and matchfixing of any form is not condoned in Singapore," the statement read.

"The Bureau works closely with the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and the authorities to keep the local football scene clean," it added.

In February, European anti-crime agency Europol said hundreds of football matches had been fixed in a global betting scam run from Singapore and identified some 680 suspicious matches, including qualifying games for the World Cup and European Championship.

Later that month, the Lebanese Football Association punished 24 players for their involvement in rigging international and regional matches.

Gestapo · Apr 5, 2013

AFC referees caught with hookers

April 4, 2013 - 1:05am

By: Shamir Osman

They were assigned to officiate in last night’s Group H Asian Football Confederation Cup encounter between Tampines Rovers and India’s East Bengal.

But the Lebanese trio of referee Ali Sabbagh (above) and assistant referees Ali Eid and Abdallah Taleb spent their day in the custody of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau instead.

Sources revealed that the trio were led away from the Amara Hotel in handcuffs in the early hours of yesterday.

They were found with prostitutes in their rooms, allegedly provided by the bookie involved in the matter.

TNP understands that Tampines’ officials were called in to help clear the room of the trio’s belongings.

Read the full report in The New Paper on April 4 (Thursday).

Gestapo · Apr 5, 2013

Football: Hearing postponed for Lebanese referees in sexual bribes case

Three match officials charged with corruption for allegedly accepting sexual favours were remanded in custody until their bail petition is heard

SINGAPORE - Three Lebanese match officials charged on Thursday with accepting sexual favours in return for fixing a game, will be held in remand for the time being.

Referee Ali Sabbagh and assistant referees Ali Eid and Abdallah Taleb face one count of corruption each.

The trio were in Singapore to officiate the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup.

Abdallah Taleb's case was the first of the three to be mentioned in court.

He initially rejected help from the Lebanese Football Association, telling the court through the interpreter that he did not want help from his country.

But he later agreed to have a representative from the Honorary Consul of Lebanon in Singapore act as his interpreter.

Ali Sabbagh's case will be mentioned on 10 April, together with Abdallah Taleb's case.

The court heard that the third - Ali Eid - was rushed to the Singapore General Hospital after he fell ill.

His case will be mentioned on 8 April.

A key point raised during the court mention was the issue of bail.

The defence requested for the court to set a bail amount, which is common for these cases.

But this was met with strong objection from the prosecution, which said a syndicate was involved in this matter and the case has drawn much attention.

The prosecution will have to make written submissions on the issue of bail.

The defence is to reply to this on 10 April and also tell the court if the three men wish to plead guilty.

The trio are said to have accepted bribes in the form of free sexual services from three different women at Amara Hotel in Tanjong Pagar Road on Wednesday - the day of the match between S-League champions Tampines Rovers and East Bengal at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

Tampines were beaten 4-2 by East Bengal, the runners-up in the Indian league.

The Football Association of Singapore alerted the AFC once it was informed that the Lebanese were not available to carry out their duties.

Replacement match officials from Malaysia and Thailand were dispatched immediately to Singapore.

- CNA/ck

Gestapo · Apr 5, 2013

Referee accused of taking sexual bribes suffers 'episode' in detention

By Kevin Lim
Reuters
Friday, Apr 05, 2013

SINGAPORE - Three Lebanese football officials accused of receiving sexual bribes in return for fixing a match in Singapore had their bail hearing postponed by a judge in the city state on Friday.

In the hearing, the prosecution said they opposed bail for FIFA-recognised referee Ali Sabbagh and assistant Abdallah Taleb, arguing they were involved in what 'appears to be a syndicated operation.' Assistant referee Ali Eid did not appear in court after he suffered an 'episode' in detention. The official is currently under observation in a Singapore hospital and is expected to appear in court on Monday or Tuesday.

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Sex for fixing game: 3 Lebanese refs charged
Sex for fixing game: Football: Lebanese officials charged with receiving sexual bribes
The bail hearing for all three was re-scheduled for April 10, when their lawyer can request bail or enter a plea on their behalf. The judge ordered the trio to stay in separate cells.

Their lawyer, who was appointed by the Lebanese Football Association on Thursday, had not met his clients prior to Friday's hearing. He was accompanied in court by Lebanon's deputy honorary counsel to Singapore.

Abdallah appeared upset when he was told in court he had a lawyer and demanded to know who had appointed him one, adding he refused to accept anyone selected by the Lebanese government.

He calmed down when the judge explained the appointment came from the LFA.

The three were in Singapore to officiate an AFC Cup match between local side Tampines Rovers and East Bengal of India on Wednesday but were replaced after being detained by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) hours before the match kicked off.

The CPIB, a government law-enforcement body that is separate from the regular police, said on Thursday the trio had been charged with "corruptly receiving gratification... to fix a football match." If found guilty, they face a maximum fine of S$100,000 ($80,500) and a five-year prison term.

The LFA said they were waiting for a reply from the Asian Football Confederation, who run the AFC Cup, on the incident.

The AFC have remained silent despite repeated calls for comment from Reuters.

Both Singapore and Lebanon have a murky recent past involving matchfixing with the prosperous Southeast Asia country accused by European anti-crime agency Europol of being at the centre of a global betting scam with 680 matches under suspicion.

In February, weeks after the Europol accusations, the Lebanese FA handed out punishments to 24 players after discovering international and regional matches had been rigged.

rolleyes · Apr 7, 2013

Football: S'pore businessman charged over sex offer in match-fixing probe

A businessman has been charged with corruption for offering free sex to three Lebanese football referees to induce them to fix a match, CPIB said Sunday.

CPIB Building in Singapore

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean businessman has been charged with corruption for offering free sex to three Lebanese football referees to induce them to fix a match in the city-state, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said Sunday.

Eric Ding Si Yang, 31, was charged with three counts of corruption on Saturday, a spokesman for CPIB told AFP. He gave no further details.

If convicted, Ding faces a maximum prison term of five years or a fine of up to S$100,000 or both penalties, for each charge.

Referee Ali Sabbagh and his fellow Lebanese assistants Ali Eid and Abdallah Taleb were charged earlier and remain in custody while their application for bail is being processed.

They were about to officiate in a Singapore-based Tampines Rovers' AFC Cup fixture with India's East Bengal on Wednesday when they were abruptly dropped and questioned by the CPIB.

The CPIB said in a statement on Thursday that it had acted on "prior information of match-fixing" involving the three referees.

"Subsequent investigations revealed that the trio corruptly received gratification... in the form of free sexual service from three females," CPIB said.

- AFP/jc

rolleyes · Apr 8, 2013

Match-fixing case involving 3 Lebanese football officials adjourned to Wednesday

A match fixing case involving three Lebanese football officials has been adjourned to Wednesday afternoon.

Singapore Subordinate Courts (Photo: Anthony Chia, channelnewsasia.com)

SINGAPORE: A match fixing case involving three Lebanese football officials has been adjourned to Wednesday afternoon.

Referee Ali Sabbagh and assistants Ali Eid and Abdallah Taleb are accused of receiving sexual bribes in exchange for fixing an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup match.

They were due to officiate a match between Tampines Rovers and East Bengal on 3 April before they were pulled out and questioned by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB). The three were charged in court last Thursday.

Ali Eid appeared in the Subordinate Courts on Monday afternoon. The Lebanese Football Association appointed Gary Leonard Low from law firm Drew and Napier to represent the three officials.

Mr Low spoke to his client Ali Eid in court on Monday and explained to him the Association's decision to defend the three officials.

Meanwhile, 31-year-old Eric Ding Si Yang will appear in court on Tuesday morning.

The Singaporean businessman is accused of inducing the three officials; he allegedly arranged for three women to have sex with the officials.

Ding was charged with three counts of corruption on Saturday.

- CNA/jc

rolleyes · Apr 9, 2013

S’porean businessman part of international match-fixing syndicate: prosecution

Prosecutors in court Tuesday said a businessman arrested for attempted match fixing was part of an international syndicate rigging the sport.

File picture shows a football pictured through the goal net in August 2011. (AFP/Giuseppe Cacace)

SINGAPORE: Prosecutors on Tuesday said a local businessman arrested for trying to fix a football match by offering free sex to the referees was part of an international syndicate rigging the sport.

Eric Ding Si Yang, 31, was arrested on Saturday for allegedly supplying prostitutes to induce three Lebanese referees to fix an AFC Cup match on April 3 between Singapore-based club Tampines Rovers and India's East Bengal.

"There is evidence to suggest the involvement of international syndicates for the offences committed by the accused," Singapore state prosecutors said in a written submission opposing bail.

But despite prosecution objections, District Judge Kamala Ponnambalam granted the businessman bail, set at S$150,000.

The suspect had his passport confiscated and is required to report regularly to Singapore's anti-corruption agency while on trial.

Investigators said referee Ali Sabbagh and his fellow Lebanese assistants Ali Eid and Abdallah Taleb accepted the sexual favours but were abruptly pulled out before the match started.

The Lebanese are being held in Changi Prison pending their bail hearing on Wednesday.

All four suspects are charged with corruption -- three counts in the case of Ding -- and are the first to be arrested since Singapore came under pressure in February to crack down on match-fixing.

The prosecution said Ding was a "high flight risk" because he has homes in Singapore and Bangkok, where his Thai wife and their daughter live.

"The forfeiture of bail money in the event of an accused's abscondment is a calculated loss which the syndicate can easily recover through illegal soccer betting in merely a single game," the prosecution said.

"Past cases also suggest a strong potential for such syndicates to interfere with the judicial process by getting witnesses to turn on the stand, or even to abscond altogether."

In granting bail, the judge stipulated that Ding must call an investigating officer from the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) daily and report to the agency every Monday.

If convicted, Ding and the Lebanese face a maximum prison term of five years or a fine of up to S$100,000, or both, for each count of corruption.

- AFP/ck/jc

Gestapo · Apr 9, 2013

Football: Singaporean denies match-fixing charge

AFP
Tuesday, Apr 09, 2013

SINGAPORE - A Singaporean businessman who allegedly induced three Lebanese referees to fix a football match by offering them free sex rejected corruption charges on Tuesday and sought bail.

Eric Ding Si Yang, 31, has been held in Changi Prison since he was charged with three counts of corruption on Saturday.

The three Lebanese, arrested earlier, are also being held in the same jail on similar charges pending their bail hearing.

The four are the first to be arrested since Singapore came under pressure in February to crack down on match-fixing. But they have not been linked so far to syndicates in the city-state allegedly rigging football games worldwide.

"We are going to trial, your honour," Ding's lawyer Thong Chee Kun told district judge Kamala Ponnampalam on Tuesday when asked for his client's plea.

State prosecutors opposed bail but the judge scheduled a bail hearing later Tuesday for Ding, who was handcuffed and dressed in white prison attire when he was brought to the trial court.

Ding is accused of offering the sexual services of three women to the referees in exchange for fixing an AFC Cup match between Singapore-based Tampines Rovers and India's East Bengal last Wednesday.

Investigators said referee Ali Sabbagh and his fellow Lebanese assistants Ali Eid and Abdallah Taleb accepted the favour but were abruptly pulled out before the match started. They are each facing one count of corruption.

If convicted, they face a maximum prison term of five years or a fine of up to $100,000, or both penalties, for each count.

Singapore's Sunday Times said Ding was a football tipster in its sister tabloid The New Paper from 2006 to 2012.

He spends most of his time in Bangkok but has stakes in a restaurant and nightclub in Singapore and is known to have a passion for fast luxury cars, it added.

rolleyes · Apr 11, 2013

Lebanese in match-fixing scandal plead not guilty, denied bail

Three Lebanese referees accused of attempting to fix a football match announced in court Wednesday their intention to plead not guilty. They were also denied bail.

photo-illustration-shows-a-football-player-during-a-match-2.jpg

Photo illustration shows a football player during a match. (AFP/Denis Charlet)

SINGAPORE: A Singapore court on Wednesday refused to grant bail to three Lebanese football referees accused of accepting free sex from a gambling-linked international syndicate to rig a match.

The referees' lawyer Gary Low told the court they will be pleading not guilty to the charges.

District judge Kamala Ponnampalam agreed with state prosecutors that there was a risk referee Ali Sabbagh and his fellow Lebanese assistants Ali Eid and Abdallah Taleb would flee the country if granted provisional liberty.

A Singaporean businessman who allegedly supplied the prostitutes was granted bail on Tuesday by the same judge.

"Having considered the submissions of parties, in particular that of the prosecution, I agree that in light of the recent trend where accused in match fixing scandals have fled, most recently in 2012... that no bail is to be granted," the judge said.

The three Lebanese men have been charged with corruption for allegedly accepting sexual bribes in exchange for agreeing to fix an AFC Cup match on April 3 between Singapore-based club Tampines Rovers and India's East Bengal.

They were abruptly pulled out before the match began and are now being held in remand at Changi Prison.

The judge on Tuesday granted bail to businessman Eric Ding Si Yang, who allegedly supplied women to the referees, despite opposition from state prosecutors who linked him to international syndicates manipulating football.

Ding, who is facing three counts of corruption, was freed after posting bail of S$150,000.

If convicted, Ding and the Lebanese face a maximum prison term of five years or a fine of up to S$100,000, or both, for each count of corruption.

- AFP/jc

Gestapo · Apr 26, 2013

Singaporean in match-fixing case charged for theft

By Claire Huang
POSTED: 26 Apr 2013 12:25 PM

The Singaporean businessman embroiled in a match-fixing case has been charged with theft.

Businessman Eric Ding Si Yang leaves court in Singapore on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

Singaporean businessman Eric Ding, 31, (R) leaves the Subordinate courts in Singapore on April 9, 2013. (AFP/Roslan Rahman)

SINGAPORE: The Singaporean businessman embroiled in a match-fixing case now faces an additional charge of theft.

Eric Ding Si Yang, 31, was charged in early April with three counts of corruption.

Ding allegedly supplied prostitutes to induce three Lebanese referees to fix an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup match on April 3 between Singapore-based club Tampines Rovers and India's East Bengal.

A fresh charge was read to Ding on Friday, who is in remand.

He is accused of stealing an "M&A Law Corporation" receipt from an investigator at the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau on 24 April at 10.20am.

Ding was asked to open a personal safe for investigation purposes. Ding then allegedly hid the receipt in his socks.

This brings the total number of charges Ding faces to four.

If found guilty of theft, Ding can be jailed up to seven years and fined.

If convicted of corruption, Ding faces a maximum prison term of five years and a fine of up to S$100,000 on each count.

- CNA/jc

Gestapo · May 3, 2013

Football corruption: Suspected bookie not revealing password to his laptop to police

Published on May 03, 2013

The suspected soccer bookie, Eric Ding Si Yang - who also faces a theft charge for stealing a document - is said to be refusing to disclose the password to his laptop to investigators. -- TNP FILE PHOTO: BENJAMIN SEETOR

By Khushwant Singh

The suspected soccer bookie - who also faces a theft charge for stealing a document - is said to be refusing to disclose the password to his laptop to investigators.

The computer was seized in connection to the three corruption charges faced by Ding Si Yang, 31, for allegedly providing three Lebanese referees with prostitutes to fix a football match.

At the court mention on Friday (apr03), Deputy Public Prosecutor Alan Loh said that Ding insisted he had forgotten the password and that the laptop was faulty.

However, a check by the police forensics branch showed that the laptop appeared fine and was encrypted, meaning it was password-protected.

Get the full story from The Straits Times.

Gestapo · May 10, 2013

Trial next month for Lebanese football officials charged with match-fixing

POSTED: 09 May 2013 6:14 PM

Singapore Subordinate Courts (Photo: Anthony Chia, channelnewsasia.com)

SINGAPORE: Two Lebanese match officials involved in a football match-fixing case will go on trial next month.

Ali Sabbagh and Abdallah Talab's case will be heard at the Subordinate Courts from 10 to 14 June.

The hearing of Ali Eid, another Lebanese official involved in the case, has yet to be fixed.

If found guilty, each could face a maximum fine of S$100,000 and a five-year jail term or both.

Singaporean businessman Eric Ding Si Yang, the alleged match-fixer will be back in the Subordinate Courts again on Friday.

Ding, who is in remand, was charged with three counts of corruption and one charge of theft.

If found guilty of theft, Ding can be jailed up to seven years and fined or both.

If convicted of corruption, Ding faces a maximum prison term of five years and a fine of up to S$100,000 on each count.

- CNA/de

Gestapo · May 10, 2013

Alleged football match-fixer out on bail of S$150,000

POSTED: 10 May 2013 7:13 PM

businessman-eric-ding-si-yang-31-walks-to-a-waiting-car-outside-the-subordinate-courts-in-singapore-on-april-9-2013-2.jpg

Singaporean businessman Eric Ding Si Yang, 31, walks to a waiting car outside the Subordinate Courts in Singapore on April 9, 2013. (AFP/Roslan Rahman)

SINGAPORE: The Singaporean businessman who is accused of match-fixing is out on bail of S$150,000.

Eric Ding Si Yang faces two charges of theft and tampering of evidence, as well as three charges of match-fixing.

The court decided that he is not likely to abscond and is no longer able to tamper with evidence.

A pre-trial conference has been set for May 17.

- CNA/ms

Gestapo · May 17, 2013

Alleged football match-fixer charged with perverting the course of justice

POSTED: 17 May 2013 7:56 PM

Singaporean businessman Eric Ding Si Yang, 31, walks to a waiting car outside the Subordinate Courts in Singapore on April 9, 2013. (AFP/Roslan Rahman)

SINGAPORE: One of the five charges against alleged match-fixer Eric Ding has been amended from theft to perverting the course of justice.

Ding allegedly tried to conceal a receipt from his personal safe after it was seized by the authorities.

The 31-year-old is currently out on bail and is expected to be back in court for a pre-trial conference on June 21.

He faces three other charges of corruption and one of refusing to cooperate with the authorities.

- CNA/fa

rolleyez · Jun 10, 2013

Lebanese referees jailed for match-fixing

POSTED: 10 Jun 2013 2:40 PM

SINGAPORE: Three Lebanese football referees pleaded guilty Monday to accepting free sex from a gambling-linked global syndicate in return for rigging a match in Singapore, with two jailed and sentencing deferred for the third.

A district court judge jailed assistant referees Ali Eid, 33, and Abdallah Taleb, 37, for three months, but deferred sentencing till Tuesday for referee Ali Sabbagh, whom state prosecutors said was the most culpable.

The assistant referees broke down into sobs after Judge Low Wee Ping said they could be freed by later Monday or Tuesday, after remission for good behaviour and due to time already served awaiting sentence.

Turning to Ali Sabbagh, 34, the judge said: "I need time to consider your sentence. I don't, for the moment, accept that you should be sentenced to six months."

Deputy public prosecutor Asoka Markandu described Ali Sabbagh as "the most culpable" among the three as he was the one approached by the syndicate and the one who persuaded the two linesmen to accept the sexual bribe.

The three men were arrested for accepting sexual favours in exchange for agreeing to fix an Asian Football Confederation Cup match on April 3 between Singapore-based club Tampines Rovers and India's East Bengal.

They were abruptly pulled out before the match began.

The three were denied bail and have been detained at Singapore's Changi prison since April 4.

Eric Ding Si Yang, 31, a Singaporean businessman who allegedly supplied the prostitutes, has also been charged with corruption and granted bail.

The judge lashed out at the FIFA-accredited referees for bringing disrepute to the sport, saying they were probably the first international football match officials to be charged with corruption in Singapore.

"That alone, the fact that you are international officials, in my view, is already an aggravating factor," he said.

"The Singapore public has an interest in preserving football as a professional sport in Singapore. This is because it has social, recreational and economic value," he added.

State prosecutors have said Ali Sabbagh was approached by Ding in "mid-2012" in Beirut, indicating a "clear international dimension" to the offences.

Ding, described in Singaporean media as a nightclub owner who drives an Aston Martin sports car, is facing three counts of corruption charges but was freed after posting bail of S$150,000.

- AFP/jc

rolleyez · Jun 10, 2013

Sex-for-fixing referees jailed in Singapore

Main picture: Referee Ali Sabbagh,34,was described as 'the most culpable' among the three as he was the one approached by the syndicate.Insert: Eric Ding Si Yang, 31,the Singaporean businessman accused of corruption by supplying prostitutes to three football officials.

AFP
Monday, Jun 10, 2013

SINGAPORE - Three Lebanese football referees pleaded guilty Monday to accepting free sex from a gambling-linked global syndicate in return for rigging a match in Singapore, with two jailed and sentencing deferred for the third.

A district court judge jailed assistant referees Ali Eid, 33, and Abdallah Taleb, 37, for three months, but deferred sentencing till Tuesday for referee Ali Sabbagh, whom state prosecutors said was the most culpable.

The assistant referees broke down into sobs and repeatedly looked up as if to thank God after Judge Low Wee Ping said they could be freed by later Monday or Tuesday, after remission for good behaviour and due to time already served awaiting sentence.

Turning to Ali Sabbagh, 34, the judge said: "I need time to consider your sentence. I don't, for the moment, accept that you should be sentenced to six months."

Deputy public prosecutor Asoka Markandu described Ali Sabbagh as "the most culpable" among the three as he was the one approached by the syndicate and the one who persuaded the two linesmen to accept the sexual bribe.

The three men were arrested for accepting sexual favours in exchange for agreeing to fix an Asian Football Confederation Cup match on April 3 between Singapore-based club Tampines Rovers and India's East Bengal.

They were abruptly pulled out before the match began.

The three were denied bail and have been detained at Singapore's Changi prison since April 4.

Eric Ding Si Yang, 31, a Singaporean businessman who allegedly supplied the prostitutes, has also been charged with corruption and granted bail.

The judge lashed out at the FIFA-accredited referees for bringing disrepute to the sport, saying they were probably the first international football match officials to be charged with corruption in Singapore.

"That alone, the fact that you are international officials, in my view, is already an aggravating factor," he said.

"The Singapore public has an interest in preserving football as a professional sport in Singapore. This is because it has social, recreational and economic value," he added.

State prosecutors have said Ali Sabbagh was approached by Ding in "mid-2012" in Beirut, indicating a "clear international dimension" to the offences.

Ding, described in Singaporean media as a nightclub owner who drives an Aston Martin sports car, is facing three counts of corruption charges but was freed after posting bail of $150,000.

Singapore has a long history of match-fixing, and syndicates from the wealthy Southeast Asian island have been blamed by European police for orchestrating a network responsible for rigging hundreds of games worldwide.

PWNED · Jun 11, 2013

Lebanese referee sentenced to six months' jail for match-fixing

Published on Jun 11, 2013

Referee Ali Sabbagh gestures during the AFC Cup soccer match between Kuwait's Al Qadsia and Yemen's Al Saqr in Kuwait City April 12, 2011. Fifa-accredited Lebanese referee Ali Sabbagh, 34, was on Tuesday sentenced to six months' jail for match-fixing. -- FILE PHOTO: REUTERS

By Walter Sim And Ian Poh

Fifa-accredited Lebanese referee Ali Sabbagh, 34, was on Tuesday sentenced to six months' jail for match-fixing.

His term will be backdated to April 4 this year when he was charged for accepting sexual gratification arranged by alleged matchfixer Eric Ding Si Yang, 31, in return for fixing a football match he would be officiating in future.

District Judge Low Wee Ping said: "You were not only cultivated by Ding, you also in turn went on to cultivate, or included, the co-accused linesmen as potential corrupt international football officials." The judge was referring to linesmen Ali Eid, 33 and Abdallah Taleb, 37, who were on Monday sentenced to three months' jail, also backdated to April 4. He added that due to Sabbagh's greater culpability, "it follows that (his) sentence must be a multiple of theirs. "

But the judge took into account the "very significant mitigating factor" that Sabbagh had pleaded guilty when the trial started, and "saved much court time and the state's resources". The Straits Times understands that the two linesmen were released from jail on Monday evening for good behaviour. They will remain in custody of the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority until they are deported Tuesday night.

rolleyez · Jun 22, 2013

S'porean allegedly involved in match-fixing to go on trial in July

By Safhras Khan
POSTED: 21 Jun 2013 4:24 PM

Businessman Eric Ding leaves a Singapore court on April 9, 2013. (AFP/Roslan Rahman)

SINGAPORE: The match-fixing case involving Singaporean businessman Eric Ding Si Yang will begin in mid-July.

Ding is facing trial for three charges of corruption.

The 31-year-old allegedly supplied prostitutes to induce three Lebanese match officials to fix a football match.

The prosecution said it is proceeding with all three charges and will call at least 12 witnesses to the stand.

Ding faces a maximum prison terms of five years, and a fine of up to S$100,000 for each charge.

- CNA/ac

EyeToEye · Jul 15, 2013

Lebanese ref 'given match-fixing lessons on YouTube'

AFP
Monday, Jul 15, 2013

SINGAPORE - A Lebanese football referee jailed for accepting sex in exchange for agreeing to rig matches testified Monday that a Singaporean businessman used YouTube to show him how to fix a game.

Ali Sabbagh, speaking on the first day of the trial of Eric Ding Si Yang, said the businessman sent him "20 to 30" YouTube links to "teach me how to make wrong decisions".

"The videos had too many decisions where the decision made by the referee is not the right decision," he said.

Ding is accused of providing Sabbagh, 34, and two other Lebanese officials with women who gave them free sexual services ahead of a match in Singapore in April in which they were supposed to officiate.

Sabbagh and the other two officials were all pulled out and placed under investigation before the match. He was found guilty in June and sentenced to six months in jail over the scandal.

Assistant referees Ali Eid and Abdallah Taleb were also convicted and have since been released and deported.

Sabbagh said that in a series of email exchanges late last year, Ding told him that the best way to rig a match was to award penalties.

Sabbagh quoted Ding as saying that "nobody will stop you, nobody will do anything... When the corner comes, just blow and say pushing and pulling... If there is anything in the penalty area, you can blow your whistle".

Sabbagh repeatedly referred to Ding as "James", saying the Singaporean communicated with him through the email address [email protected].

He said Ding, currently out on bail, gave him assurances that he would not be asked to rig matches that would affect his career within the Asian Football Confederation.

State prosecutors said in an opening statement that they filed three charges against Ding for "corruptly giving gratification to three football officials as an inducement to fix football matches that they would officiate in the future".

Ding faces a maximum prison term of five years and fines of up to Sg$100,000 (US$80,000) for each count of corruption.

The case is a colourful addition to Singapore's long history of match-fixing scandals, including allegations that syndicates in the wealthy city-state organised the rigging of hundreds of games worldwide.

Football: Three match officials charged in S'pore court

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