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SINGAPORE: A court has denied an application by alleged matchfixer Eric Ding to leave Singapore.
Ding is accused of bribing three Lebanese match officials with prostitutes in return for fixing a match in Singapore in April.
Ding had applied to travel to Bangkok, Thailand to enrol his four-year-old daughter in an international school.
Ding's defence said his partner, an unnamed Thai woman, did not speak English and was unable to do so herself.
The defence highlighted that Ding was not a flight risk, as he had faithfully followed reporting obligations imposed by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).
It said Ding would not have applied to leave the country if it were "not critical or urgent to do so".
Prosecutors rebutted that Ding's partner should be able to enrol their daughter in school herself, as administrators of international schools in Bangkok should be able to speak Thai.
It would also not be difficult to arrange help from another person other than Ding who could speak English.
Prosecutors argued that Ding was a flight risk.
They said he has about S$400,000 in cash after selling his stake in a nightclub in Singapore in May.
Prosecutors said this was highly suspicious, and they "utterly believed" that Ding plans to abscond.
It also emerged that two business partners from the nightclub were also being investigated by CPIB, although the reasons were not stated.
But they left for Thailand during investigations and have not returned.
They said that Ding was "well-resourced" and would have little problem going on the run.
They also highlighted other assets of his, including cars such as an Aston Martin V8 Vantage worth more than S$550,000 and a terrace house.
These assets have been frozen.
Prosecutors suggested that Ding now had "a clear sense that evidence is stacked against him", and had decided to abscond.
District Judge Toh Yung Cheong said he had considered factors of urgency and necessity, and the court was not satisfied with the reasons laid out by Ding's defence.
The trial has been adjourned to an unspecified date. - CNA/gn
Match-fixing trial: Ding 'struck deals with Thai refs too'
Singaporean businessman Eric Ding Si Yang.
Walter Sim
The Straits Times
Friday, Feb 07, 2014
SINGAPORE - A businessman on trial for bribing three Lebanese football officials with prostitutes when they were in Singapore to officiate a match had allegedly struck deals with Thai officials as well.
This emerged in court on Tuesday, the first day of the third tranche of the long-running trial against alleged Singaporean match-fixer Eric Ding Si Yang, 31.
Text messages retrieved from a chat app on his iPhone apparently showed he had discussed with an unnamed Thai official about a Thai referee called "Thanom", who had "become a big problem".
The messages - most of which are understood to have been deleted - were dated Jan 28, 2013.
The exchanges show "the user of the phone talking to some Thai referee, and it has connotations of match-fixing", Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) senior special investigator Jeffrey Tan told the court.
Ding, who sat expressionless in the dock for most of the day, shook his head when the messages were produced.
They also sparked a fierce debate between the prosecution and the defence about their admissibility as evidence in court.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Asoka Markandu argued that they showed Ding was involved in international match-fixing deals outside Singapore's jurisdiction prior to his arrest last April on the current bribery charges.
He said the messages were also relevant to counter the defence's claims earlier in the trial that Ding had told Lebanese referee Ali Sabbagh to stay away from Thanom.
Ding had done so, according to his lawyers, because he is a well-connected authority on football intending to write a book about match-fixing.
On Tuesday, defence counsel Thong Chee Kun argued that the messages bore "no relevance" to Ding's current three charges.
He is accused of corruptly giving gratification to three Lebanese officials on April 3 last year in return for fixing an unidentified future match.
Mr Thong added that the messages were being "read in context to suit (the prosecution's) purposes", and that "it has not even been confirmed" that Ding had sent them.
District Judge Toh Yung Cheong ruled the messages can be admitted in court as evidence.
The Line app messages were one of several case exhibits the prosecution took CPIB's Mr Tan through on Tuesday, asking him to comment on their relevance to the case and their contents.
The other exhibits include closed-circuit television footage and phone records.
A grey Nokia phone - one of seven phones seized from Ding when he was arrested - had the number allegedly used by Ding to communicate with Mr Sabbagh.
But its SIM card was not registered in Ding's name.
Instead, it was registered in the name of a foreign national Chen Xiaochun, whom the anti-graft agency was unable to trace. But the phone records were corroborated with those of Mr Sabbagh's phone.
The two men had made 10 calls between April 2 and 3 last year, the phone records show.
Ding can be fined up to $100,000, or jailed up to five years, or both, if convicted.
The Lebanese officials - Mr Sabbagh, 34, and linesmen Abdallah Taleb, 38, and Ali Eid, 33 - have been deported after serving jail time here for accepting bribes.
Controversial chat
Extracts of text messages dated Jan 28 last year, taken from the Line chat app in Eric Ding Si Yang's iPhone. These show him discussing the performance of Thai referee "Thanom" with another Thai official. (Note: The messages are reproduced verbatim.)
Sent messages
"Don't always tell me if goal not come you give. Goal not come 75 minute you still not give. We all see 2 chances can give before 70th minute but you do nothing. Company not trust you anymore. You take our money play play fun. Not serious at all. 3 game."
"Thank you for try talk other referees and that is only good thing you do for us. But job is most important and now company not happy. I cannot control what they will do and what they can do... We know it is Thanom side confirm and now our company will make war. We will not work with you and Thanom anymore and this is end. Good luck Thai referees work with other people."
Received message
"Up to you because I don't know how the market I (hear) from you if you say bad I can't talk anything I trust you and still working with you and try more to do everything give back to you I know you help me much but you never trust me."
Alleged match fixer Eric Ding to give defence in court
SINGAPORE: Alleged match fixer Eric Ding will have to defend himself in court after a district judge ruled on Thursday that the prosecution had a prima facie case.
The 31-year-old is accused of bribing three Lebanese match officials with prostitutes in return for fixing a match in Singapore in April 2013.
Defence lawyer Thong Chee Kun said in court that the prosecution's case was based on circumstantial evidence and not credible facts, adding that Ding had not paid for the prostitutes.
However, District Judge Toh Yung Cheong agreed with the prosecution that the testimony from referee Ali Sabbagh, one of the match officials charged, was enough to prove the intent and element of corruption.
Updated: 04/07/2014 21:29 | By Channel NewsAsia
Alleged match-fixer declines to give evidence in defence
SINGAPORE: Alleged match-fixer Eric Ding has decided not to give evidence in his defence.
The 31-year-old chose to remain silent when he was asked in court on Monday if he wished to give evidence.
In early March, a district judge had ruled that the prosecution had a prima facie case, which meant there was enough evidence to proceed with the trial.
The former freelance football tipster with The New Paper is accused of providing prostitutes to three Lebanese match officials -- in return for fixing an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup match last April.
The three men have since been deported after serving jail time in Singapore for accepting bribes.
The defence is now calling two witnesses to the stand.
One of them is Lebanese lawyer Aiman Fakih, who took the statements of two of the match officials.
The other is R Jegathesan, The New Paper's former sports editor.
Verdict on case of alleged football match-fixing on July 1
SINGAPORE: The verdict on the case of alleged football match-fixer Eric Ding will be delivered on July 1.
Ding is accused of providing prostitutes for three Lebanese match officials in return for fixing a match in Singapore in April 2013.
The defence closed its case on Thursday.
At the start of the defence's case on Thursday, lawyer Hamidul Haq said the prosecution had failed to prove the existence of any corrupt element and corrupt intent.
He said the prosecution also failed to secure the attendance of the two linesmen Abdallah Taleb and Ali Eid. It relied only on their statements to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau.
Mr Haq said that after the two linesmen returned to Lebanon, they claimed that they had pleaded guilty so that they could return home as quickly as possible.
The defence also raised points made by prosecution witnesses during cross-examination that Ding had been preparing to write a book on football match-fixing.
The defence's only witness Jegathesan K Rajagopal, who was a sports editor at The New Paper, testified that he was not aware of this.
If convicted, Ding can be jailed up to five years and fined $100,000 on each of his three charges. - CNA/ec
Singapore businessman convicted in sex-for-fixing case
Eric Ding Si Yang is a former TNP tipster who is in the midst of a match-fixing trial.
AFP
Tuesday, Jul 01, 2014
SINGAPORE - A Singaporean businessman was found guilty of corruption Tuesday after a judge ruled that he offered three Lebanese referees free services of prostitutes in return for rigging future matches.
Nightclub owner Eric Ding Si Yang, 32, could face up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $300,000 for bribing referee Ali Sabbagh, 35 and assistant referees Ali Eid, 34, and Abdallah Taleb, 38.
Sentencing has been scheduled for July 22.
District Judge Toh Yung Cheong said in a written judgement the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that Ding offered the Lebanese trio free sexual services to "induce the three of them to agree to getting involved in match-fixing".
"The ultimate objective was to get the match officials to make decisions on the pitch that were incorrect in order to benefit the match-fixers," Toh said.
The three Lebanese were arrested in the early hours of April 3 last year for accepting sexual favours in exchange for agreeing to fix an unspecified football match.
They had been scheduled to officiate at an Asian Football Confederation Cup match between Singapore-based club Tampines Rovers and India's East Bengal but were pulled out after their detention.
All three subsequently pleaded guilty. Sabbagh was jailed for six months while Ali Eid and Abdallah Taleb served three-month sentences.
In his judgement, the judge dismissed as "far-fetched" Ding's argument that he was not a match-fixer but a journalist with a local tabloid who had an "interest in writing about match-fixing".
"In fact, his claim that he was a freelance journalist could provide ideal cover for his illegal activities and also grant him access to match officials," the judge said.
Ali Sabbagh, who became a prosecution witness while serving his sentence, testified during the nearly year-long trial that Ding had showed him YouTube videos to teach him how to fix games as a match official.
He had 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".
Ding, who had refused to testify during the trial, is currently out on bail.
The case is a colourful addition to Singapore's long history of match-fixing scandals.
In September last year Singapore police nabbed 14 people believed to be members of a global match-fixing syndicate including the suspected mastermind Dan Tan.
Singaporean arch-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal, an associate of Dan Tan, is currently in the spotlight for accurately predicting the outcomes of a FIFA World Cup tie between Cameroon and Croatia, including the exact score and the dismissal of a player in the first-half.
Match-fixer Eric Ding’s sentencing adjourned to Thursday
SINGAPORE: Convicted match-fixer Eric Ding will know his fate on Thursday (July 24), after Tuesday’s session to decide on his sentence was adjourned. The businessman was found guilty on July 1 of three charges of bribing three Lebanese football officials with prostitutes.
At Tuesday's hearing, the prosecution pushed for a stiff "exemplary" penalty for Ding. It said Ding should serve between four and six years in jail and be fined between S$120,000 and S$300,000. The maximum penalty for corruption is a five-year jail term and S$100,000 fine.
The prosecution said a stiff sentence is warranted - although no match-fixing had taken place, Ding cannot be given any leniency just because Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) were efficient in their arrests, it argued. - CNA/nd
Businessman match-fixer Eric Ding Si Yang 'led the high life'
Prosecutors seek jail, heavy fine ahead of sentencing
Published on Jul 23, 2014 9:50 AM
Ding's luxury buys included an Aston Martin V8 Vantage for $551,500, and a house in East Coast for $1.1 million. -- ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN
By Walter Sim
An Aston Martin V8 Vantage for $551,500, a Porsche 911 for $281,400 and a terraced house in East Coast for $1.1 million - all paid for in cash.
These were the luxury purchases which prosecutors cited yesterday to show the "trappings of wealth" of local businessman Eric Ding Si Yang, 32, that arose from his match-fixing activities.
Earlier this month, he was found guilty of three counts of corruption for providing three Lebanese football officials with prostitutes as bribes for fixing future matches.
Prosecutors pressed for a stiff sentence of four to six years behind bars, and a fine of between $120,000 and $300,000 to be imposed.
Updated: 07/24/2014 11:46 | By Channel NewsAsia
Match-fixer Eric Ding gets 3 years’ jail, plans to appeal
SINGAPORE: Businessman Eric Ding was sentenced to three years’ jail on Thursday (July 24), after being found guilty earlier this month of bribery. He began serving his sentence immediately after his request for bail to be extended was denied by the court.
The 32-year-old was convicted on July 1 of three charges of bribing three Lebanese football officials with prostitutes, as an inducement to fix matches that they would officiate in future.
Noting that his decision to bribe the Lebanese officials as an inducement to fix matches they would officiate in future was premeditated, District Judge Toh Yung Cheong said Ding was no doubt "swayed" by the potential profits and difficulty in detecting such offences.
According to the judge, this is because the advent of online betting has made match-fixing more lucrative and potentially allows offenders to hide behind the anonymity of the internet.
The Attorney-General's Chambers said it intends to file a notice of appeal against Ding's sentence as the prosecution had earlier submitted that Ding should be jailed between four and six years, and fined. Ding's lawyer also said his client would be appealing the conviction and sentence.
In his sentencing remarks, the judge accepted that Ding was part of an ‘organised group’ to carry out match-fixing activities but noted there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt he was indeed part of a large international criminal syndicate.
"The absence of such evidence was one of the reasons why my sentence is below the sentencing range suggested by the prosecution. If there was indeed evidence that the accused played a major role in a large criminal organisation, I may well have accepted the sentencing range suggested by the prosecution," he added.
Still, the judge noted this did not mean the court was restricted to concluding that Ding was a small-time operator who was acting alone and that his activities were small scale and would cause little harm. On the contrary; Ding was seeking to corrupt FIFA referees who were responsible for officiating international matches, and had made references to a company in his email correspondence with one of the referees, as well as used the term "we" rather than "I" - suggesting that he was not acting alone. He also did not impose a fine because no match was actually fixed, and there was no evidence Ding benefited financially from his offences.
Ding was also denied bail pending his appeal. Deputy Public Prosecutor Alan Loh cited the case of match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal, who fled the country after being convicted of unrelated charges. "There's no special reason why Ding should be allowed to go on bail," Mr Loh said.
The prosecution had argued that there was a risk Ding would abscond. Mr Loh said that Ding's roots are not fully embedded in Singapore, as his wife and daughter are living in Thailand, while noting that he is a man of substantial means with the necessary resources and network to abscond.
It also added that Ding presents an increased risk of absconding after conviction and after lengthy sentence had been passed. The judge agreed that more weight must be given to ensure Ding does not abscond especially when this could threaten Singapore's international reputation and standing.
The judge also noted that the prosecution has confirmed that it is willing to accept an early date for the appeal. Ding later told reporters through his lawyer Hamidul Haq that he looks forward to clearing his name in the High Court. - CNA/cy/rw
Ding’s luxury buys included an Aston Martin V8 Vantage for $551,500, and a house in East Coast for $1.1 million.
An Aston Martin V8 Vantage for $551,500, a Porsche 911 for $281,400 and a terraced house in East Coast for $1.1 million - all paid for in cash.
These were the luxury purchases which prosecutors cited yesterday to show the "trappings of wealth" of local businessman Eric Ding Si Yang, 32, that arose from his match-fixing activities.
Earlier this month, he was found guilty of three counts of corruption for providing three Lebanese football officials with prostitutes as bribes for fixing future matches.
Prosecutors pressed for a stiff sentence of four to six years behind bars, and a fine of between $120,000 and $300,000 to be imposed. Deputy public prosecutor Alan Loh said a heavy punishment was warranted because Singapore's feted reputation as one of the least corrupt countries in the world had been "tarnished" by international reports of match-fixing cartels operating out of the country.
He called match-fixing an "insidious undermining of the basic precepts of fair play" that causes great harm to society as it creates a "high-yield method for criminal organisations to launder money".
"The dangers of allowing match-fixing to proliferate uninhibited are thus far more sinister than would appear at first blush," he said, urging the court to make a "powerful and unambiguous statement" that match-fixing has no place in Singapore.
Mr Loh also cited court evidence that Ding has had ties with Dan Tan Seet Eng, named by Interpol as "the leader of the world's most notorious match-fixing syndicate", who is now under detention.
In mitigation, defence counsel Thong Chee Kun called the prosecutors' sentencing recommendations "draconian". He argued for a huge fine or, if the court deems it warranted, a short custodial sentence.
Mr Thong said it is "trite law" that each case should be decided on its own facts.
"It cannot be right to make Mr Ding pay for the actions of every match-fixer in Singapore," he argued. "The fact that Mr Ding had made certain purchases does not mean Mr Ding has used ill-gotten gains to finance his lifestyle." The defence also argued that no harm was caused because no match was fixed, and that the value of the bribes was low - though the prosecution argued this should bear little weight in "syndicated crime".
Updated: 08/08/2014 13:19 | By Channel NewsAsia
Eric Ding has no grounds to appeal against refusal of bail: High Court Judge
SINGAPORE: There has been no change of circumstances to warrant a review of a District Judge's decision not to grant match-fixer Eric Ding bail, Supreme Court appellate Justice Chao Hick Tin said on Friday (Aug 8).
Ding had submitted an appeal to the High Court on Tuesday after he was refused bail by a District Judge.
The 32-year-old, who was convicted on July 24 on three counts of corruption relating to providing three Lebanese football officials with prostitutes as bribes, had to start serving his three-year jail sentence immediately, despite intending to appeal against the punishment, because the judge deemed him a flight risk.
However, Justice Chao said on Friday that the only new factor to consider in Ding's appeal - a knee operation that was scheduled for Wednesday, Aug 6 - was for a medical condition that was diagnosed about 23 months ago.
"I do not wish to imply any improper motive on (Ding's) part in scheduling the operation at this time. (But) there is no evidence to indicate that the operation must be carried out now and cannot be further delayed," said Justice Chao.
"Accordingly, I cannot place any weight on this new circumstance. Effectively, there is no material change of circumstances which warrants this court to review the decision of the District Judge," he said, adding that the Prison medical service can attend to Ding's medical condition if needed.
Justice Chao said he would order the expedition of the hearing of Ding's appeal to take place within the next two months. - CNA/es
Ding was sentenced to three years' jail on July 24 for providing three Lebanese football officials with prostitutes as bribes for fixing future matches. He applied for bail until his appeal is heard but was refused by the district court.
Print
SINGAPORE - Convicted match-fixer Eric Ding Si Yang will continue to serve his prison sentence for corruption until his appeal is heard, after the courts denied him bail a second time yesterday.
Rejecting Ding's bid to stay his three-year jail term, Judge of Appeal Chao Hick Tin said that once a person is convicted, bail is permitted only where there are special reasons.
However, to ensure that "unnecessary prejudice" is not caused to the 32-year-old businessman, he ordered that the hearing of Ding's appeal be scheduled as soon as possible.
Justice Chao said he was confident that the appeal hearing could take place in the next two months.
Ding was sentenced to three years' jail on July 24 for providing three Lebanese football officials with prostitutes as bribes for fixing future matches.
He applied for bail until his appeal is heard but was refused by the district court and began serving his prison term immediately.
District Judge Toh Yung Cheong had considered Ding a flight risk and concluded that he would tarnish Singapore's reputation if he ran off.
Ding then filed a motion in the High Court, which was heard on Tuesday, making a second attempt to stay his sentence and be released on bail, pending appeal.
His lawyer Hamidul Haq argued that Ding has no intention of fleeing, noting that he has complied with bail conditions and had shown up for all court hearings since he was charged last year.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Ken Hwee cited precedent cases to argue that bail pending appeal cannot be granted "by default" unless there are special reasons.
Yesterday, Justice Chao agreed and upheld the district court's decision to deny bail.
Even though Ding had scheduled a knee operation on Wednesday, Justice Chao said there were no new circumstances that warranted a review of the district court's decision.
"I do not wish to imply any improper motive on the applicant's part in scheduling the operation at this time. But I must observe that this medical condition was diagnosed some 23 months ago," he said.
Justice Chao added that he has been assured by the DPP that the prison will be able to attend to Ding's condition.
Matchfixer Eric Ding fails to quash conviction; prosecution wants longer jail term
Published on Sep 19, 2014 5:44 PM
Eric Ding Si Yang arrives at the State Courts for sentencing on July 24, 2014. Ding has failed in his bid to overturn his conviction for bribing three Lebanese football officials with sex provided by prostitutes. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
By Selina Lum
SINGAPORE - Matchfixer Eric Ding Si Yang has failed in his bid to overturn his conviction for bribing three Lebanese football officials with sex provided by prostitutes.
The High Court on Friday dismissed his appeal. Justice Chan Seng Onn said he agreed with the findings of the district judge who found Ding guilty after a 25-day trial.
The prosecution has asked the High Court for a heavier punishment than the original three-year jail term, while 32-year-old Ding has appealed for a more lenient sentence.
Sentencing was adjourned for the prosecution and defence to first sort out issues regarding two separate charges that Ding is facing - for stealing a document and for obstructing investigations. He was sentenced on July 24 for providing three Lebanese football officials with prostitutes as bribes for fixing future matches. He started serving his jail term immediately after he was denied bail pending appeal.
Match-fixer Eric Ding's jail term increased from three to five years
Published on Jan 16, 2015 10:46 AM
Eric Ding Si Yang was sentenced in July last year by a district court for providing three Lebanese football officials with prostitutes as bribes for fixing future matches. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
By Selina Lum
SINGAPORE - The High Court on Friday increased the jail term of match-fixer Eric Ding Si Yang from three years to five years.
The 32-year-old businessman, who is currently in jail, was sentenced in July last year by a district court for providing three Lebanese football officials with prostitutes as bribes for fixing future matches.
He appealed for a shorter term of a year's jail, while the prosecution sought a heavier punishment of six years' jail and a $120,000 fine.
The prosecution argued that such offences tarnish the country's reputation and pointed to foreign criticism that Singapore was not doing enough to combat match-fixing.
The prosecution also asked the High Court to raise sentencing benchmarks for such offences, given changes in technology and the landscape of betting in sports.
On Friday, Justice Chan Seng Onn upped Ding's sentence to five years' jail, saying that the original term of three years was "manifestly inadequate". The judge also laid down sentencing guidelines for future match-fixing cases.
Match fixer jailed for perverting course of justice and refusing to reveal password
Convicted match fixer Eric Ding Si Yang will have to serve another year in prison after he admitted perverting the course of justice and failing to provide the password to his laptop computer. PHOTO: ST FILE
Published Oct 23, 2015, 1:49 pm SGT
Elena Chong
Court Correspondent
SINGAPORE - Convicted match fixer Eric Ding Si Yang will have to serve another year in prison after he admitted perverting the course of justice and failing to provide the password to his laptop computer.
The 33-year-old is now serving a five-year jail sentence for giving bribes in the form of free sexual services to three Lebanese Fifa football officials to fix a soccer match that they would be officiating.
On April 23, 2013 , after he was charged with corruption and released on bail , he hid a receipt in his left sock while the contents of his safe were being examined by Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau officers at the CPIB premises.
The next day, he was at the Criminal Investigation Department when he obstructed the lawful exercise of powers by refusing to give his password to decrypt the Sony laptop that was seized from his car when he was arrested on April 3 that year.
He was sentenced to 12 months on the perversion charge and a concurrent nine months' jail for the other offence under the Criminal Procedure Code. The sentence will start after the expiry of his present jail term.
Ding, who was clad in prison garb, was sentenced to three years' jail after he was convicted of bribing the soccer officials in July last year. He lost his appeal against conviction and sentence.
The High Court, however, allowed the prosecution's cross-appeal and increased his sentence to five years earlier this year.
A district court heard on Friday (Oct 23) that Ding and his lawyer were at the CPIB premises on April 24, 2013 - 18 days after he was charged - to witness the opening of his safe.
Ding knew that the meeting with CPIB was in relation to the ongoing investigation into his involvement in match-fixing activities in Singapore.
He then proceeded to open the safe in the presence of two CPIB officers and his lawyer. One of the officers recorded all the items that were found while the other noticed him fidgeting with his left sock.
The officer saw a huge bulge in the left sock. When confronted, Ding removed a piece of paper that he had surreptitiously ferreted from the opened safe. It was found to be an official receipt from M&A Law Corporation for the sum of $5,000.
Ding later gave a statement to the CPIB admitting that the money was paid by him as a deposit to engage a lawyer to represent one Muhammed Hassan Shahood Din, who is now being detained for his his involvement in an international match fixing syndicate.
The next day, he lied to CID officers that he did not have any password for his Sony laptop which had been configured to display a boot-up message that falsely claimed "hard-disk failure''.
The court heard that he knowingly withheld information so as to prevent the CID officers from accessing the data on his laptop.
Forensic officers from the CID subsequently managed to find out the decryption password without Ding's help. Considerable resources were expended for this and incriminating evidence such as e-mails between Ding and the Lebanese Fifa football officials were found. These clearly pointed to his involvement in match-fixing activities.
He could have been jailed for up to seven years and fined for perverting the course of justice; and for the other offence, fined up to $10,000 and jailed for up to three years.
