INTERPOL Integrity in Sport Bi-Weekly Bulletin - 4 September 2018 - 17 September 2018
In Australia, three Victorian harness racing individuals have been found guilty of race-fixing and banned indefinitely pending a further investigation by Harness Racing Victoria. In New Zealand, as part of 17-month long Operation Inca, police made 11 arrests for harness race-fixing and drug offending. Sri Lanka’s cricket’s anti-corruption unit detained five Indian spectators on suspicion of match-fixing. In Fiji, the independent investigation committee formed by the country’s football association to look into match fixing allegations against Tavua football will conduct a second round of interviews before handing its report to the ethics committee.
In France, former owners of Nimes Olympique football club were sentenced to three years in jail – 18 months served and 18 months suspended – for their role in a match-fixing case that took place in 2014. In Nigeria, the country’s football federation has given a Super Eagles coach a one-year ban from all football-related activities for allegedly taking bribes to select players. In Malaysia, more than 22,000 people have been arrested in connection with illegal gambling activities.
Last week, INTERPOL General Secretariat hosted the 10th INTERPOL Match-Fixing Task Force (IMFTF <https://www.interpol.int/News-and-media/News/2018/N2018-092>) meeting which brought 80 officials from global law enforcement, international organizations, government and sports organizations under one roof to identify new ways to investigate and cooperate in cases related to sports corruption and competition manipulation.
IMFTF was created to support member countries with investigations and law enforcement operations in all sports, and maintains a global network of investigators for the sharing of information, intelligence and best practice.
French authorities have added to former International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) president Lamine Diack's legal problems by charging him with favouring his son in negotiations over sponsorship and TV rights. The Lisbon attorney general’s office is charging Benfica in connection with alleged attempts to gain access to magistrates’ investigations involving the club and its league rivals. Apart from the club, the public prosecutor is also charging two court clerks.
Lastly, we invite our readership to watch a video <https://www.sportschau.de/doping/video-the-flourishing-trade-of-illegal-medicine-in-the-eu-100.html> on doping where German scientists show how the EU market offers the same illegal supply with easy access without the need of any prescription.
We welcome submissions on best practices, major developments, new trends and relevant articles for publication in the bulletin. We also welcome hard copies of publications that your Organization is producing in the field of sports corruption at the below address.
The next bi-weekly bulletin will be circulated on Monday, 1 October 2018.
INVESTIGATIONS
Australia
Driver Nathan Jack and two others guilty in harness race fixing
THREE Victorian harness racing people, including high-profile Shepparton driver Nathan Jack, have been found guilty of race fixing and banned indefinitely pending a further investigation by Harness Racing Victoria. Jack, fellow driver Mark Pitt and stablehand Lisa Bartley had been charged with conduct that corrupts a betting outcome among other offences. The police investigation centred on a 2015 Cobram race, which was won by a horse called Airbourne Magic.
Pitt was found guilty of a charge relating to the race, while Bartley was found guilty of charges relating to the training arrangements of Airbourne Magic. Jack and Pitt were convicted and fined $20,000 and $15,000 respectively in Wodonga Magistrates’ Court, with Bartley fined $5000 without a conviction being recorded. It had been alleged Jack and Pitt manipulated the race by allowing Airborne Magic to win, after Jack “pulled up” his horse. Police also alleged the racehorse had been secretly trained at a more elite facility before the event, creating unfair betting odds. Besides having their harness licences suspended, the trio have also been excluded from attending any Victorian racecourses.
These restrictions were imposed immediately pending submissions being provided as to why these embargoes should not remain in place until the completion of a HRV investigation. A decision is expected to be announced by the HRV Integrity Department on September 19.
Source: 7 September 2018, News.com.au
Harness racing
Fiji
Fiji FA: Committee will conduct second round of investigations into match fixing allegations
THE independent investigation committee that was formed by the Fiji Football Association to look into match fixing allegations against Tavua football will conduct a second round of interviews before handing its report to the ethics committee. This has been confirmed by Fiji FA President Rajesh Patel who said only three or four players turned up for the interview with the coach and president.
“We need to interview all players and also interview the Labasa players. The investigations committee will do this and then hand us the report,” Mr Patel said. An investigation committee was formed by the Fiji Football Association to look into complaints by Lautoka of match fixing at the Inkk Mobile Battle of the Giants tournament in September. Fiji FA chief executive officer Mohammed Yusuf had earlier confirmed that the Tavua side would be investigated on possible match fixing allegations.
It is understood that the Lautoka Football Association made the allegations after Labasa thumped Tavua 5-nil on day three of the BOG. The 5-nil drubbing meant Labasa secured a spot in the tournament semi-finals, leaving Lautoka to win at least by four clear goals against Ba later that day to qualify for the semi-finals. Lautoka bowed out of the tournament with six points despite defeating Ba 2-nil, as Ba and Labasa each had six points but a better goal average than Lautoka.
Source: 10 September 2018, Fiji Times
Football
New Zealand
Nelson race meet at the centre of harness racing race-fixing charges
A mid-winter harness race in Nelson is at the centre of a police inquiry into alleged match-fixing - with allegations at least one of the drivers manipulated the result. Charges have been laid in relation to Race 11 at Nelson on June 8, which was won by Storm Prince, driven by champion driver Blair Orange. Another driver in the event has been charged with manipulating the result of the race - and causing losses to the betting public and other race participants.
The charge is laid under the Crimes Act and carries a maximum penalty of up to seven years in prison. That driver's horse was considered one of the pre-race favourites - he has been accused by police of not attempting to win. That driver is due to appear in the Christchurch District Court this afternoon.
He is also charged with possessing the Class B drug MDMA for supply and with supplying Class B drugs (MDMA). There were 11 horses in the race, part of a two-day Nelson racing carnival in June. The owner of the horse that allegedly under-performed in the Nelson race said no-one had told them their horse was embroiled in the matter and did not know the rider had been charged. "It's all news to me," the owner said today.
Source: 5 September 2018, NZ Herald
Harness racing
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12119473
New Zealand
Ten arrested after 17 police raids during probe into race-fixing, drugs offences
The tally of arrests as part of an unprecedented police inquiry into harness race-fixing and drug offending has risen to 10, after a second day of raids on stables and homes. Four people were remanded when they appeared in the Christchurch District Court on Wednesday facing charges of deceptive practice or drug offences.
They were arrested as part of Operation Inca, a 17-month investigation which culminated in raids on 17 properties in Canterbury, Manawat and Invercargill on Tuesday and Wednesday. Judge Tony Couch took the unusual step of suppressing the details of all the charges for two of the accused, and would only allow the general nature of the charges to be reported. Matthew Anderson, 26, a shedhand of Woodend, was charged with obtaining by deception and drugs charges. He was remanded on bail without plea to September 11. It is understood others arrested as a result of the police investigation would also be appearing that day.
Anderson's defence counsel Philip Watts sought interim suppression but it was refused by Couch. His bail conditions included not to attend horse racing meetings, trials, or work-outs. He is also charged with three counts of supplying a class B drug, and one charge of possessing the drug for supply.
A 49-year-old Christchurch man was remanded on bail to September 26 on charges of supplying, offering to supply, or possession of various sorts of drugs. Defence counsel Linda Drummond asked for interim suppression because of the high level of interest in the case and because identification was an issue. Police did not oppose the order.
Judge Couch granted the order which applied to his name, address, and occupation. A 30-year-old Christchurch man was charged with offering to supply a class B drug, and offering to supply it to several other people, as well as unlawful possession of a restricted weapon. He was remanded without plea to September 26, but when Judge Couch refused name suppression, defence counsel Andrew McCormick said it would be appealed to the High Court and the order has been continued until the hearing, if papers are filed.
A fourth man, Elie Georges Sawma, a Papanui hairdresser, aged 42, faced nine charges of supplying or offering to supply the class B drug, namely ecstasy. He was remanded on bail to October 4, without plea. No suppressions were sought in his case. Police on Wednesday morning visited Cran Dalgety's Racing Stables in West Melton, near Christchurch, where star harness racer Dexter Dunn, 28, has been a driver since he was young. Dalgety, who is in Whangarei, said staff told him officers turned up on Wednesday morning, walked around the stables and then left. When asked if police took anything, he joked: "pride".
Dalgety had not spoken to Dexter Dunn, who is in the United States, but said he would be "very surprised" if Dunn was involved in race fixing. Dalgety said he had no part in any alleged race fixing and doubted what was alleged was possible.
"I've got nothing to hide. I'd be driving a Lamborghini if there was that much money in it. I've just got a Hilux."
Those arrested on Wednesday join some of the biggest names in New Zealand harness racing facing charges after the investigation enters its final phase. Those charged to date are trainer/drivers Blair Orange, John Dunn, Nigel McGrath, Natalie Rasmussen, Matt Anderson, Andrew Stuart, Manawat thoroughbred racing administrator Brent Wall, Christchurch hairdresser Elie Georges Sawma and another two who cannot be named, Stuff understands.
The Racing Integrity Unit (RIU) has also moved to bar all those charged by police from attending race meetings, workouts and trials. It said "in view of the serious nature of the charges", the unit had charged the accused with Serious Racing Offences under the Rules of Harness Racing. Earlier it emerged the New Zealand Derby at Addington, Christchurch, one of the most important events in the harness racing calender, is one of the races being looked at as part of the probe. Sources have told Stuff the race is under scrutiny and that people interviewed were asked about phone communications monitored by the police. [...]
Source: 5 September 2018, Stuff
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka detains five Indians over match-fixing fears
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka cricket's anti-corruption unit detained five Indian spectators on suspicion of match-fixing during Sunday's third and final women's ODI between the hosts and India, an official said.
The five were initially asked to leave the ground at Katunayake, just north of the capital Colombo, and later detained by police for investigations, the official said.
"We felt their behaviour was suspicious at the grounds and all of them were seen excessively communicating on their phones," the Sri Lanka cricket official, who declined to be named, told AFP. "We exercised our right to remove them from the ground and the police took over the investigation."
Authorities believe that the suspects may have had links with foreign gambling operations. Betting on sports is illegal in Sri Lanka. Police said they were questioning the suspects.
Sri Lanka won Sunday's match by three wickets, but India won the three-match tournament 2-1.
Last month, two Indians were apprehended in Sri Lanka after officials spotted them behaving suspiciously and making repeated calls on their mobile phones during a domestic T20 tournament match.
Since last month Sri Lanka Cricket has deployed more anti-corruption officials at match venues.
Sri Lanka has also announced plans for tougher laws against sports corruption and a special police unit to deal with match-fixing following an Al-Jazeera documentary in May exposing corruption in global cricket in which three Sri Lankan officials were filmed agreeing to sway matches.
Source: AFP, 17 September 2018, The Nation
Cricket
https://www.geo.tv/latest/211438-sri-lanka-detains-five-indians-over-match-fixing-fears
SENTENCES/SANCTIONS
France
Former Nimes bosses sentenced to jail in match-fixing case
PARIS (AP) — A French court has sentenced the former owners of Nimes to three years in jail — 18 months served and 18 months suspended — for their role in a match-fixing case.
Former president Jean-Marc Conrad and Serge Kasparian — who was Nimes’ main shareholder when they tried to fix the results of matches as their club fought off relegation in 2014 — were also ordered to pay a 50,000 euro fine ($58,000) on Thursday. They can appeal the decision.
Under new management, Nimes returned to the top division this summer for the first time in 25 years after finishing runner-up to Ligue 2 champion Reims last season.
Source: AP, 13 September 2018, Fox Sports
Football
Nigeria
Super Eagles coach gets one-year ban for collecting bribe
Yusuf was caught on video collecting N357,000 from investigative reporters posing as football agents. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have given Super Eagles coach Salisu Yusuf a one year ban from all football-related activities for allegedly taking a bribe to select players.
Yusuf was caught on camera collecting N357, 000 ($1,000) from journalists posing as football agents who wanted him to select two players for the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN). The coach was invited to face the NFF Ethics Committee to state his own side of the story and after careful consideration, Yusuf has been given a one year ban from all football-related activities and fined $5000.
In a report submitted to the NFF Secretariat on Tuesday, September 4, the Committee say they found the coach guilty of accepting cash gift offered by the fake football agents on behalf of Osas Okoro and Rabiu Ali. The Committee also believes that Yusuf made a deliberate decision to accept the cash gift and ruled that it was not an error of judgment on the part of the coach.
The Committee also found the video which was made public by BBC African Eye has a damaging effect on the reputation and integrity of Nigerian football. The decision of the Committee to ban and fine Yusuf is in accordance with Art 22, FIFA Disciplinary Code. The $5000 fine is to be paid within three months of the date of the decision.
As the chief coach of the Super Eagles, Yusuf is in charge of the Super Eagles home-based side and an assistant to Gernot Rohr for the Super Eagles. He has however been left out of the Super Eagles coaching crew for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Seychelles on Saturday, September 8. He was in charge of the Super Eagles Team B to the 2017 WAFU and 2018 CHAN where they lost in both finals.
In an investigation led by Ghanaian journalist Anas Aremeyaw, reporters posing as football agents for some players approached Yusuf in September 2017 for a conversation about players’ selection. During the conversation, they handed the Nigerian coach N360, 000 ($1000) and alluded to more cash incentives if he selects their players for CHAN 2018 which held in Morocco. [...]
Source: 5 September 2018, Pulse Nigeria
Football
BETTING
Malaysia
IGP: More than 22,000 detained, RM3.73mil seized in gambling raids nationwide
KUALA LUMPUR: More than 22,000 people have been arrested in connection with illegal gambling activities nationwide.
Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said that this year, police had conducted 12,449 raids on illegal gambling dens and unlicensed lottery syndicates, which led to 22,300 arrests.
"These numbers show a decrease compared to 12,628 raids and 24,338 arrests last year.
"Though those numbers have decreased, cash seizures increased from RM3.73mil last year to RM4.67mil this year," he said in a statement on Wednesday (Sept 12).
He added that money seized from unlicensed lottery syndicates this year alone was RM1.47mil.
Mohamad Fuzi also said police had seized 25,267 mobile phones, tablets, simulators and computers used in illegal gambling this year, compared to 65,465 devices seized last year.
"Our records show that the states with the highest numbers of successful raids nationwide are Johor (2,719), Selangor (2,372), Sarawak (1,617), Negri Sembilan (1,156), Kedah (945) and Penang (863).
"Based on these numbers we will focus our efforts in these six states," he said.
He added that since special hotlines had been set up at each state to gather information on illegal gambling activities, police had received 716 tip-offs.
"We managed to launch 414 successful raids, due to the information gathered while another 141 tip-offs were being developed further.
"He added that police checks revealed 161 of the tip-offs were false," he said.
Mohamad Fuzi also said that since 2014 police have detained 117 subjects for running illegal gambling syndicates nationwide under the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca).
He said that statistics showed that 33 were detained this year compared to 34 detained in 2017.
Mohamad Fuzi also warned police officers and rank and file personnel that the top brass at Bukit Aman was monitoring them. "Stern action will be taken against any officer, including OCPDs and state police chiefs who do not dispense their duties effectively," he said.
Source: Austin Camoens, 12 September 2018, The Star Online
DOPING
Germany
The flourishing trade of illegal medicine in the EU
For years it seemed that dopers could only order prescription-only medicine illegally from obscure countries, dangerous sources with doubtful quality. Now German scientists have uncovered: the EU market offers the same illegal supply with easy access and perfect quality. No prescriptions needed.
Source: 11 September 2018, Sportschau
https://www.sportschau.de/doping/video-the-flourishing-trade-of-illegal-medicine-in-the-eu-100.html
ODDS AND ENDS
United Kingdom
"I was trying to catch a conman, not fix matches": Liverpool legend Bruce Grobbelaar on the story that has tainted his life... and how he put a false bottom in sock drawer to stash £25k
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Bruce Grobbelaar opens up on the match-fixing story that tainted his life
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The ex-Liverpool goalkeeper stood trial on match-fixing charges 21 years ago
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He revealed during the trial that he had stashed £25,000 in his sock draw
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"Cash is king in Africa... I put a false bottom in the drawer to keep it in," he says
So, tell me about your sock drawer, Bruce Grobbelaar. It is not the kind of request you generally put to a six-time First Division title and European Cup winner.
But the piece of furniture in question has had an enduring fascination ever since the individual in question — a member of the most prolific Liverpool team of all — stood trial on match-fixing charges at Winchester Crown Court 21 years ago and revealed he had stashed £25,000 in it.
It seems one hell of a lot of loose cash to have lying around, with yet more of the same in his airing cupboard and the legal system was not quick to clear Grobbelaar of charges that he accrued it by agreeing to throw three Liverpool games in the Nineties. [...]
Source: Ian Herbert For The Mail On Sunday, 15 September 2018, Mail Online
Football
INTEGRITY IN SPORT EVENTS
INTERPOL
INTERPOL Match-Fixing Task Force closes ranks on organized crime
LYON, France – A global INTERPOL conference has closed with a call to share more intelligence identifying the organized crime groups behind match-fixing.
INTERPOL’s 10th Match-Fixing Task Force (IMFTF) meeting brought 80 officials from global law enforcement, international organizations, government departments and worldwide sporting associations under one roof to identify new ways to investigate and cooperate in cases related to sports corruption and match-fixing.
With responding to the challenges of competition manipulation high on the agenda, particularly as it relates to money laundering and corruption, the two-day (11 and 12 September) meeting included a closed-door meeting for investigators to share intelligence and discuss emerging match-fixing tactics.
Delegates learned that INTERPOL is in the process of setting up a dedicated Criminal Analysis File (CAF) to help countries share intelligence and build a better picture of the organized crime groups involved in match-fixing.
“We need to understand the business model of organized crime in order to tackle it, and this is what a CAF will help us establish,” said INTERPOL’s Director of Organized and Emerging Crime, Paul Stanfield, underlining the importance of "going after the money to identify the criminals behind the activity and to take the incentive out of the crime".
“Input from our law enforcement members as well as sports organizations is critical to building a tactical intelligence picture, permitting countries to anticipate threats and putting preventative measures in place for a comprehensive and unified approach to the prevention of match-fixing,” added Mr Stanfield.
IMFTF was created in 2011 to support member countries with investigations and law enforcement operations in all sports, and maintain a global network of investigators for the sharing of information, intelligence and best practices.
Since the launch of IMFTF, membership has grown from the initial eight to more than 80 countries, with events and workshops organized in more than 25 countries benefiting over 2,500 individuals.
The following countries sent law enforcement officials to attend the meeting : Algeria, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong (China), Ireland, Italy, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Zambia.
In addition to law enforcement, participants included delegates from all continents representing the International Olympic Committee, International Federation of Association Football, Union of European Football Associations, Tennis Integrity Unit, European Handball Federation, Sportradar, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Global Lotteries Monitoring System, the Group of Copenhagen National Platforms Network under the Council of Europe and UNODC.
Source: 12 September 2018, INTERPOL
https://www.interpol.int/fr/News-and-media/News/2018/N2018-092
CORRUPTION
International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)
Ex-IAAF chief Diack faces fresh charges
French authorities have added to former IAAF president Lamine Diack's legal problems by charging him with favouring his son in negotiations over sponsorship and TV rights, sources close to the case told AFP on Friday.
Diack was head of the governing body of global athletics from 1999 until his arrest in France in 2015. He was charged at the time with taking millions of dollars to cover up failed Russian doping tests along with two other IAAF officials. A tribunal led by anti-corruption judge Renaud van Ruymbeke has continued to investigate the 85-year-old, who is forbidden to leave France. The latest charges were brought on June 26 and accuse Diack of a "breach of trust."
They stem from the cooperation of the IAAF, now led by Diack's former vice president Sebastian Coe, which gave investigators copies of all its sponsorship contracts from 2008 to 2015. Diack is accused of exploiting his position to enable his son Papa Massata Diack, known as PMD, "to appropriate IAAF receipts from sponsors", including Chinese broadcaster CCTV, Russian state bank VTB, Samsung of South Korea and Chinese oil refiner Sinopec.
PMD has been on Interpol's most wanted list since December 2015 but is sheltering in Dakar as the Senegalese government refuses to extradite him to France. At the court appearance in June, van Ruymbeke made an inventory of PMD's invoices to the IAAF, some of which were sent directly to Lamine Diack. In 2012, the total was $501,206 (429,000 euros at the time). In 2014, it was $825,955.
"Why did you agree to give your son so many advantages?" van Ruymbeke asked.
After the collapse of ISL, the Swiss sports rights broker that went bust in 2001, the IAAF sold its commercial rights to Dentsu. The Japanese company in turn subcontracted rights to AMS, a company founded by ex-ISL staff. Both have connections with PMD. In 2014, with the doping crisis looming, Lamine Diack signed a contract extension with Dentsu running from 2020 to 2029.
"Why did you tie the hands of the IAAF for such a long time with Dentsu and AMS," van Ruymbeke asked. "Did not you want to prolong a situation that directly benefited your son, who had contracts with Dentsu and AMS?"
Last September, PMD told L'Obs, a French magazine: "I earn my living by taking commissions on the business I bring in. Sometimes 10 percent, sometimes 15 percent, sometimes 20 percent." Since the arrest in 2015 the Diacks have also been the subject of investigations in other countries, including South Korea, the United States and Brazil, where suspicion focuses on the Rio Olympics.
Source: 14 September 2018, AFP Athletics
https://www.afp.com/en/news/207/ex-iaaf-chief-diack-faces-fresh-charges-doc-1936hc8
Portugal
Benfica vows to fight Lisbon prosecutors’ corruption charges
Benfica says it will fight corruption charges that could lead to the Portuguese soccer club being banned from competition. The Lisbon attorney general’s office says it is charging Benfica in connection with alleged attempts to gain access to magistrates’ investigations involving the club or its league rivals. Apart from the club, the public prosecutor is also charging two court clerks. A judge must now decide if the public prosecutor’s evidence is enough to take the case to trial. A verdict could take years in the notoriously slow Portuguese legal system. The Portuguese soccer federation’s disciplinary committee said Wednesday it has launched its own investigation after the prosecutors’ charges became public. The charges relate to the last two seasons. Benfica is in the group stage of the Champions League.
Source: 5 September 2018, Washington Post
Football
- Anti-Corruption Anti-Doping Athletics Australia Cricket Fiji Fiji FA Football France Germany Harness Racing International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Match Fixing New Zealand Nigeria Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Paris Portugal Race Fixing Sri Lanka United Kingdom (UK)
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