By Andrew Warshaw
May 24 – Dan Tan, the elusive and notorious Singaporean who is on almost every list of wanted match-fixers, has been charged over an international conspiracy stretching back four years, along with 44 Hungarians.
Dan Tan, whose real name is believed to be Tan Seet Eng, was indicted in his absence by Hungarian prosecutors. Chief Prosecutor Imre Keresztes said in a statement that 32 local and international matches are thought to have been manipulated by the suspects, including former and current players, referees, team owners, an agent and a coach.
The list of suspicious matches includes some played in the top Hungarian, Italian and Finnish leagues, the Hungarian lower divisions and several international matches at both the national team and club team levels.
According to the indictment, a Hungarian suspect and his associates joined an Asian-based match-fixing organization in 2010. The scam is believed to have been masterminded by Dan Tan.
Hungarian authorities, who launched their match-fixing investigation in December 2009, said they have issued international and European arrest warrants for Tan, so far without success.
The suspects’ aim was to place bets on matches whose outcome they could influence by bribing players and referees. Prosecutors are believed to have been ‘assisted’ in their investigation by Dan Tan’s former partner in crime, Wilson Raj Perumal, currently under house arrest in Hungary after being jailed in Finland.
Dan Tan’s name is frequently cited in connection with global corruption. He is rarely seen in public but has previously denied allegations of match-fixing.
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