Singapore police report on the change in the policy of sentencing for horse betting cases, which was adjusted in August 2024. They recommend harsher penalties due to the significant damage caused by these cases. Currently, 230 suspects involved in horse betting have been prosecuted under this new policy.
The sentencing recommendations come from the Sentencing Advisory Panel, which includes representatives from the judiciary, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the police, prosecution, and the Legal Service Commission. These recommendations are not binding but serve as guidelines. The new guidelines suggest that involvement in criminal cases using illegal betting accounts should result in an 18-month jail term and an increased penalty if the victim loses more than $100,000 or benefits from the damage.
These enhanced penalties also extend to allowing others to use accounts without knowledge of their criminal use. Allowing unauthorized access to bank accounts or Singpass carries a minimum sentence of 6 months.
Under this new directive, a 23-year-old man was sentenced to 19 months and 2 weeks in prison, along with a fine of $5,200 Singapore dollars. Overall, all horse betting cases decided during this period have received a minimum sentence of 6 months as outlined in the guidelines.
Last month, Sun Xueling, the Minister at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Singapore, stated that they would consider increasing penalties for horse betting cases. However, any actual increase in penalties would require legislative changes and not just recommendations as per this round.
Source – The Strait Times
TLDR: Singapore police recommend harsher penalties for horse betting cases, with 230 suspects already facing prosecution under the new sentencing policy. Sentencing guidelines suggest jail terms and fines for involvement in criminal activities using illegal betting accounts, with minimum sentences of 6 months. Minister Sun Xueling is considering further penalties, pending legal amendments.
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