Footballers linked to match-fixing syndicate
Four people, including three footballers, were charged on Thursday for fixing local Premier League and First Division matches, as well as illegal gambling. Those charged by the ICAC are defenders Brian Fok and Luciano Silva Da Silva, goalkeeper To Chun-kiu, as well as Waheed Mohammed. Both To and Mohammad are said to be betting agents of illegal gambling websites. Fok was playing for Hong Kong Football Club and Happy Valley, Luciano for Central and Western, and To for Sham Shui Po when the alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2023. The anti-graft body alleged that in the 2021/22 season, Fok offered bribes ranging from HK$10,000 to HK$30,000 to two Hong Kong Football Club teammates to fix matches. His teammates rejected the offers and reported to the team. The ICAC also alleged that during the 2022/23 season, the suspects conspired with another betting agent to win money in gambling by causing Happy Valley to lose matches, or manipulating the number of goals or corner kicks of Happy Valley or Central and Western by fraud. "ICAC enquiries revealed that the four defendants placed bets in a total of over 30 matches participated by [Happy Valley] and [Central and Western] in the 2022/2023 season, during which Fok had given live signals at matches to the betting agents concerned for placing bets," the graftbuster said in a statement. The four have appeared in Eastern Court for mention, and were released on cash bail between HK$10,000 and HK$20,000 each. They were ordered to surrender their travel documents and stay in Hong Kong, and not to contact prosecution witnesses. The ICAC added that investigation is continuing, and there could be further law enforcement actions.