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Hong Kong Court Jails Two Footballers and Betting Agent in Match-Fixing Case
A Hong Kong court sentenced former Under-23 player Brian Fok, Brazilian player Luciano Silva da Silva and betting agent Waheed Mohammad to prison terms of up to 17 months. The three were convicted on five charges connected to a police operation that arrested 23 people for suspected illegal gambling and match rigging.
May 29, 9:36 AM·1m read1 source
South China Morning PostAudio version
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A Hong Kong court sentenced two footballers and a betting agent to prison terms of up to 17 months on Friday for their roles in a match-fixing scheme. Former Hong Kong Under-23 player Brian Fok, Brazilian player Luciano Silva da Silva and betting agent Waheed Mohammad appeared at West Kowloon Court for sentencing on five charges.
The case stems from a police investigation that led to 23 arrests for suspected illegal gambling and attempts to rig local football matches.
Magistrate Peter Yu Chun-cheung rejected requests to suspend the sentences. He stated that the defendants had deliberately manipulated matches, which depend on honest competition, public trust and commercial sponsorship. “The defendants’ conduct eroded public confidence in football, damaged the reputation of local football competitions and adversely affected the development of local football,” the magistrate said.
Fok, 32, received 17 months in prison on three counts of offering an advantage to an agent and two counts of conspiracy to cheat at gambling.
