Interpol chief urges Singapore to arrest match-fixing suspect Dan Tan

The head of Interpol yesterday urged Singapore to move against one of its citizens who is considered to be a key suspect in global football match-rigging, after one of his alleged associates was arrested in Italy.

The International police agency's secretary general, Ronald Noble, said in the Malaysian capital that Singapore needed to move on Tan Seet Eng, also known as Dan Tan, who has emerged as a central figure in the suspected fixing of nearly 700 matches around the world.

"The fact that there can be an alleged organised crime head operating in a country known to be safe, secure, like Singapore, distresses Singaporeans and distresses the world," Noble said.

The call, made at the end of a two-day meeting between Interpol and world football officials, came as police arrested Admir Sulic at Milan's Malpensa airport. The Slovenian, who is suspected of belonging to a betting syndicate called the "Zingari" (gypsies) headed by Tan, was held after arriving on a flight from Singapore.

An international arrest warrant was issued for Sulic in December 2011 in connection with the illegal-betting, or "calcioscommesse", scandal in Italian football that implicated dozens of players, coaches and officials. Noble had earlier praised Singapore for tipping off Interpol and the Italian authorities about Sulic's arrival in Milan, although he did not name the suspect directly or give his nationality.

Sulic was wanted for questioning in relation to alleged match-rigging by Tan's organisation, which the Interpol boss said was linked to suspicious results in some 60 countries.

Tan's name has cropped up in multiple match-rigging investigations, but he remains at large in Singapore, where police have said they need hard evidence before arresting anyone. Tan has denied wrongdoing.