Online gambling defendants the first to be prosecuted under Singapore's organised crime act

Singapore’s tough new Organised Crime Act is being used for the first time to punish six individuals arrested last November on illegal online gambling allegations involving a multi-million dollar gang.

The OGA came into effect last June, and was used this week as the basis for charges laid against the six defendants: Seet Seo Boon (53), See Chye Huat (51), Seah Ee Lam (67), Toh Hee Choye (62), Or Poh Soon (55) and Lim Poi Hwa (62).

Local media reports claim that Seet, See and Seah were first charged last year with remote gambling offences. Following multiple raids last November, the police arrested 49 people – including the six charged on Thursday and suspected to be part of the group.

Police raiding parties seized S$1.3 million in cash and froze S$6.5 million held in multiple bank accounts, along with 36 properties around Singapore with a combined worth of S$39 million.

Under the Organised Crime Act, anyone convicted of involvement in a Singapore-linked organised crime group could be jailed for up to five years and fined up to S$100,000.

A senior police spokesman warned that enforcement bodies have adopted a “zero tolerance” approach to organised crime.