An Indonesian-Chinese businessman has been jailed for 51/2 years and fined $670,000 for his involvement in illegal soccer bookmaking and money laundering totalling $724 million.
The weekly turnover of the bookmaking syndicate averaged $4 million during its four-year operation.
Oei Hengky Wiryo, 48, was found guilty of conspiracy to provide bookmaking services between June 1997 and September 2001.
He was also found guilty of two counts of dealing with proceeds to the tune of $247 million known or believed to be the result of indictable offences.
In sentencing yesterday, Deputy District Court Judge Patrick Li Hon-leung noted that he had taken into consideration Oei's 'anxiety depression' illness.
He also remarked that there had been no elaborate arrangement to cover up the bookmaking syndicate's illegal activities.