The China Post staff
The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) yesterday arrested a former professional baseball player and two of his suspected accomplices for their suspected involvement in the recent sports gambling scandal.
Hung Tsung-chen, who used to be a member on the National Baseball Team, is currently a coach at a high school in Taipei County. CIB indicated that it believes that Hung was the courier that delivered large amounts of money to players in the Professional Baseball League and urged them to participate in rigging the game.
Investigators stated that Hung provided players on the La New Bears team with NT$2 million in July of this year. The players that were "bought" received a substantial amount, while unknowing players received NT$50,000 each for their "good performance" on the field.
After paying off the players, the members of the gambling ring would evaluate the odds before each game and determine if they want to rig the game. If the odds are favorable, they would then discreetly signal the players to lose on purpose, said investigators.
Lin Chien-hung and Wang Chien-chiang, both on the roster of the La New Bear team, were summoned for questioning by the police. Although Hung, Lin, and Wang denied involvement in the scandal, CIB revealed that they are in possession of substantial evident of their criminal activity.