Blind man behind rigged games

Blind man behind rigged games

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A blind man with no interest in football has been identified as the mastermind behind scores of Malaysia's fixed soccer games, officials said Monday.

The 50-year-old man, among more than 50 underground bookies and players arrested since August in a bid to clean up the sport, astounded authorities with his ability to rig matches without knowing how they are played.

"I am shocked the blind man is the mastermind," Deputy Home Minister Megat Junid Megat Ayob was reported saying Monday by local newspapers.

"Though he doesn't know anything about football, he can explain how he fixes the matches," Megat Junid said.

Officials said it was information gleaned from the blind suspect that enabled the arrest of key players and bookies responsible for rigging matches in Malaysia's national premier league.

Police said nine players and bookies, including the blind man, have been banished to their home districts under the Restricted Residence Act to help with investigations.

"We will make our recommendations to the government to restrict the movements of another 16 players soon," federal criminal investigations director Mohamed Said Awang told reporters.

The Restricted Residence Act is normally applied on those suspected to be involved in activities deemed detrimental to the security and interest of the country but who could not be prosecuted due to insufficient evidence.

Megat Junid said the bookies will be banished for two years.

"We are confident they will not operate anymore as their phone calls will be screened," he said.