Singapore mastermind jailed for fixing overseas basketball matches through player bribes.: Singapore basketball bribery
Match-fixing mastermind

1. Singapore basketball match fixing
2. Jail sentence for match fixing
3. Overseas sports bribery scheme

A Singaporean man, Koa Wei Quan, was sentenced to two years and three months in jail for masterminding corrupt arrangements to bribe professional basketball players in Thailand and the Philippines to fix matches. His accomplice, Poh Wei Hao, received an eight-month jail sentence for his involvement in the scheme. The duo befriended each other while playing for the same local basketball club and later conspired to fix matches to increase their online betting profits. They offered a player, Ian Sanggalang, 250,000 Philippine pesos to ensure Magnolia Hotshots lost a match by nine points. The plan succeeded, and Sanggalang received US$5,000 as a bribe.

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A recent case has shocked the sports world as a Singaporean man was found to be the mastermind behind corrupt activities involving professional basketball players fixing matches in Thailand and the Philippines. The man, Koa Wei Quan, has been sentenced to two years and three months in jail for his involvement in this illegal scheme. His accomplice, Poh Wei Hao, also received a jail sentence of eight months for his role in the scandal.

The story begins with Koa and Poh, who had been friends since 2009 when they played basketball together for a local club. In 2017 or 2018, Koa discovered that Poh was also engaging in illegal sports betting online. Seeing an opportunity to profit from fixing matches, Koa approached Poh with a plan to involve foreign basketball players in fixing games they were playing in.

The motive behind this corrupt arrangement was simple – by fixing matches, Koa and Poh could increase the likelihood of winning their online bets and making a profit. They would place bets on match outcomes that had already been predetermined with the players involved, giving them an unfair advantage in the betting world.

Koa’s connections led him to Leonidez Zapata Avenido, who introduced him to Sergei Bien Orillo, a man who claimed he could fix matches in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) league. Together, Koa, Avenido, and Orillo discussed fixing an upcoming PBA match between the San Miguel Beermen and Magnolia Hotshots basketball clubs.

In April 2018, the trio agreed to offer Ian Sanggalang, a player for Magnolia, 250,000 Philippine pesos (approximately S$6,400) to ensure that Magnolia lost the match by nine or more points. Koa provided Orillo with the money to bribe Sanggalang as part of the arrangement. As planned, Magnolia lost the match by nine points, and Orillo confirmed that he had given Sanggalang US$5,000 (S$6,700) after the game.

The consequences of their actions caught up with Koa and Poh, leading to their convictions and jail sentences. This case serves as a reminder of the severe repercussions of engaging in match-fixing and corruption in sports. It not only tarnishes the integrity of the game but also undermines the trust of fans and sponsors.

The sentencing of Koa and Poh sends a strong message that such illegal activities will not be tolerated, and those involved will face the full force of the law. The sports world must remain vigilant against any attempts to compromise the fairness and integrity of competitions. Only by upholding the highest standards of ethics and transparency can we preserve the true spirit of sportsmanship and competition.

In conclusion, the case of the Singaporean man who masterminded the bribery of basketball players to fix matches serves as a cautionary tale for all involved in the world of sports. Let this be a reminder that cheating and corruption have no place in the game, and those who engage in such activities will ultimately face the consequences of their actions.