MHA's statement on alleged global match-fixer Dan Tan's appeal

SINGAPORE — Alleged match-fixer Dan Tan Seet Eng was set free by the Court of Appeal today (Nov 25) after being in detention for two years.

The 51-year-old businessman was arrested in September 2013 for his alledged role in rigging football matches globally, and has been held without trial under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act (CLTPA) since October 2013.

The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a statement today following the release of the Court of Appeal's judgment on Dan Tan. MHA's full statement is appended in full below:

The Court of Appeal this morning released its judgement on the case of Dan Tan Seet Eng who appealed for a review of his detention under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions Act) [CLTPA]. The Court of Appeal determined that the detention could not be justified as the grounds of detention did not suggest Dan Tan’s activities had a bearing on the public safety, peace and good order within Singapore. The Court of Appeal therefore ruled that Dan Tan should be freed. Dan Tan was released from the Supreme Court earlier today.

Our law enforcement agencies began investigating into Dan Tan's case in 2011, when he was repeatedly cited in Italian court papers for his involvement in transnational criminal activities, in the form of match-fixing. Mr Ronald Noble, then Secretary-General for INTERPOL, said that Dan Tan was the “mastermind and leader of the world's most notorious match-fixing syndicate”, with “tentacles reaching every continent”.

Dan Tan was subsequently detained under the CLTPA in October 2013 for being the leader and financier of a global criminal syndicate that conducted match-fixing operations out of Singapore. Investigations indicated that Tan had an extensive network of people under his control – many of whom were recruited in, and directed out of Singapore.

We will carefully consider what needs to be done in the current situation. The Ministry of Home Affairs will study the judgement carefully and assess further steps.