Arrested bookie has international links: FIA

Suspect was caught at Rawalpindi stadium

RAWALPINDI:

A bookie was taken into custody from the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (RCS) on Saturday working for a gambling network based in Dubai, officials from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) shared.

They added that a case has been registered at the New Town police station against the suspect identified as Bilal Ahmed.

Unlike bookies shown in films, decked in high fashion, making phone calls from stadiums cracking deals with suitcases filled with cash, Ahmed seemed like a guy off the street wearing a crumpled shalwar qameez and a jacket in the mug-shot released by the police.

Investigators said it was learnt that the suspect had made multiple trips to Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates (UAE). The suspect had previously faced an investigation by the International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) in Sharjah and Sri Lanka, the investigation revealed.

The Rawalpindi police have decided to form a joint investigation team (JIT) to further investigate the bettor to reach other members of the racket, a spokesperson stated. The bookie used a forged card to enter the stadium from where he was taken into custody by the police and handed over to the FIA Islamabad Zone.

According to a first information report (FIR), FIA Assistant Director Nadeem Akhtar informed that the suspect was booked from RCS after he was witnessed talking over the phone in a suspicious manner as the match was under way.

During the investigation, the suspect confessed that he had bet Rs13,000 online on a betting application and was transferring tips to another person’s account in the UAE from the stadium in real-time.

The gambler told the police that he had previously traveled to Sri Lanka and UAE multiple times and faced investigation from ICC ACU in Sharjah as well, an official mentioned. Two cellphones under the suspect’s use as well as his forged card have also been handed over to the local police, he added.

The suspect is a resident of Cantonment area in Lahore and had forged his entry pass issued during the Karachi test between the two teams.

Meanwhile, Rawal Superintendent of Police Rai Mazhar said that they were contacting related institutions for the formation of a joint team. The Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Ahsan Younas added that the elements involved in online betting and defaming the country will be unveiled.

Ahmed was taken into custody during the second test match between Pakistan and South Africa at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and handed over to the FIA due to his suspicious activities and contacts outside the stadium.

There suspect was allegedly providing live online information about the match, pitch and weather to the network in Dubai.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2021.