April 9 – Alleged Singaporean match fixer Eric Ding Si Yang, accused of bribing three Lebanese match officials a year ago in return for rigging games, has chosen not to testify at his long-running corruption trial.
District Judge Toh Yung Cheong ruled last month that the prosecution had established a prima facie case, which meant there was enough evidence to proceed with the trial.
But the 32-year-old former freelance football tipster with The New Paper (TNP), published by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), chose not to testify in his own defence.
The three officials, who were in Singapore last April to officiate an Asian Football Confederation match, were detained and subsequently banned.
Ding’s defence lawyer Thong Chee Kun told the court that the prosecution’s case was based on circumstantial evidence and not credible facts, adding that Ding had not paid for the prostitutes. If convicted, Ding faces a maximum penalty of five years in jail and a $100,000 fine.
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