SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Victoria Police has confirmed that two individuals have been charged with attempting to corrupt at least two tennis tournaments in Brazil and Egypt in 2018, after they were found to be a part of an international tennis match-fixing syndicate.
Reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, the India-headquartered syndicate is allegedly responsible for using low-ranked players from Europe and South America to throw matches while associates placed bets with bookies on the other side of the world.
“Detectives from the Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit have charged two men with using corrupt conduct information for betting purposes,” the spokeswoman said.
“The charges relate to an investigation into alleged betting practices linked to a number of international tennis matches in Brazil and Egypt in 2018. The investigation into this matter remains ongoing.”
Rajesh Kumar and Harsimrat Singh were charged with attempting to fix games in order to win up to $320,000, receiving 16 charges and nine charges respectively. The Melbourne Magistrates Court also found that a portion of the money was sent back to players via Western Union wire transfers.
A spokesperson for the Tennis Integrity Unit said: “All TIU investigations are carried out in confidence and that policy, together with the fact that this is an ongoing legal process, means we are not in a position to comment on the matter at this time.”
The charges issued to the individuals alleged that they had previously received information that ‘one or more of the players’ had collaborated with the syndicate to manipulate the results of the match.
It has been reported that both Kumar and Singh subsequently placed bets, or attempted to place bets, ranging from $8.70 to $25,000 on the outcome of sets or matches with major corporate bookies.
