Four alleged SEA Games match fixers face new charges
The accused in a SEA Games match fixing case leave the court on May 30, 2015. TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — The quartet prosecuted for conspiring to fix a SEA Games football match had fresh charges pressed against them today (June 5).
Singaporean Rajendran R Kurusamy and Timor-Leste’s team manager Orlando Marques Henriques Mendes each face two additional charges. Rajendran, 55, a former associate of Singaporean match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal, was today charged with giving S$1,000 to Orlando as gratification to arrange for Timor-Leste to throw their match against Malaysia. The money changed hands at Orchid Country Club on May 28, the court heard. Malaysia won that game 1-0 last Saturday.
The duo, along with former Timor-Leste footballer Moises Natalino de Jesus, 32, and Indonesian national Nasiruddin, 52, were today also charged with one count each of conspiring to corruptly offer monetary gratification to at least seven members of the Timor-Leste team as inducement to lose the match.
Today, Deputy Public Prosecutor Navin Naidu asked for the men to be remanded with no bail offered because of their high flight risk.
But Rajendran, who is represented by Mr Edmond Pereira, asked to be offered bail. He will be back in court for a bail review on Wednesday.
The other three men will be back in court on June 15 for a pre-trial conference. No bail was granted to them.
Orlando also sought to be let out to engage a lawyer. “This case was just an offer, we didn’t consent to it. If there is an agreement ... (it must be) in black and white,” he told the court today.
Mr Naidu said the Timor-Leste Embassy was aware of Orlando’s case and would make arrangements for legal representation.
