Two Singaporeans charged for fixing matches played in Turkey

Two Singaporeans have been charged with corruption for involvement in match-fixing in Turkey in 2013, court documents showed on Oct. 7.

In a fresh case that highlights the global reach of football-rigging syndicates in the city-state, Rajendar Prasad Rai, 42, and Shree Manish Kalra, 22, each face three charges at a district court.

Two were lodged on Oct. 5 and the other in late September.

One accuses Rai of "instigating" Kalra to give 25,000 euros ($28,185) to a Macedonian national, Marjan Stojanchevski, and two countrymen to fix the outcome of a match between SC Charleroi of Belgium and VVV Venlo of Holland on Jan. 11, 2013 in Antalya, Turkey.

Another charge says Rai asked Kalra to give 15,000 euros to the same Macedonians to fix a game between Steaua Bucuresti  and Dynamo Moscow on Feb. 3, 2013 in Antalya.

The third charge alleges Rai asked Kalra to give 27,000 euros to the same people to fix a match between Sturm Graz and Steaua Bucuresti on Feb. 1, 2013 in Antalya.

Kalra allegedly handed the money to the Macedonians in all three instances.

The charge sheets did not give details of the Macedonians, but a Marjan Stojanchevski is described as a linesman or referee on several football sites.

Each charge is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years or a maximum fine of $70,315 or both.

In a separate case, Rai and another Singaporean are accused of trying to bribe three or four players of a local football team, Singapore Recreation Club, in the local S. League in July 2014.

Singapore has a long history of match-fixing scandals, a stain on its reputation as one of Asia's least corrupt countries for business and government.

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