Bookies paid US$600,000

Bookies paid US$600,000

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Bookies paid an estimated 1.5 million ringgit (US$600,000) to soccer players to rig the results of last year's Malaysian league matches, police said yesterday.

Players involved in match-fixing received an average of between 10,000 ringgit ($4,000) and 15,000 ringgit ($6,000) per game, said federal criminal investigation chief Mohd Said Awang. " Some were paid as high as 45,000 ringgit ($18,000)," Mohd Said was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

A widening Malaysian investigation into corruption in the sport has led to the arrests of 58 players, two former coaches and six bookies since August last year.