Police said yesterday they had busted two gambling rings -- one international and one domestic -- that had accepted bets on the outcome of the presidential election.
For the international ring, the Independent Betting Arbitration Service (IBAS), officers from the National Police Administration's Criminal Investigation Bureau arrested 20 gamblers at a private residence in Taishan, Taipei County, on Tuesday night. Police said these gamblers had gathered to discuss and share tips.
According to police, the IBAS operates through a Web site that was established by Tim Lambe and Bernard Cheah in the UK in May 1997, but was hosted by a Hong Kong woman identified as Mok Hsiao-mei (莫小梅).
Gamblers, usually from the US, UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia and Taiwan, placed bets on various issues, including sports as well as the presidential elections in Taiwan and the US, according to police.
Police said that for Taiwan's election, the minimum bet was US$150.
"According to the gamblers, they communicated through e-mail messages and then wired their money to the assigned bank accounts of the host," said Eric Lee (李相臣), the head of the Internet Crime Investigation Squad of the National Police Administration's Criminal Investigation Bureau.
"It is our understanding that such a gambling Web site is legal in the UK. However, since the behavior took place in Taiwan, it is regarded illegal," he said.
As for the 20 suspects arrested on Tuesday, Lee said they will be indicted on charges of gambling.
According to the Criminal Code, the maximum fine for gamblers is NT$1,000. They do not face a jail sentence.
The investigation bureau's First Division also sent officers to arrest four suspected gamblers in separate locations in Chiayi on Tuesday night. The bureau arrested Lin Li-min (林麗敏), Lee Chang-fa (李長發), Wang Shao-wu (王紹武), Lo Wu Bao-ching (羅吳寶鏡) and the suspected gambling ring host Lu Chung-ming (呂中銘).
Police said Lu had confessed to establishing the ring a few months ago, adding he usually accepted bets through faxes.
Police said the other suspects were Lu's partners.
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