Police have arrested five people, including four Hong Kong men, for running an illegal football gambling syndicate, a top official said today.

Police described the group's activities "as the largest so far in Malaysia", adding that it had carried out its operations in Kuala Lumpur for the past month. Police raided the premise on Monday.

Aziz Bulat, city police criminal investigation chief, told AFP that the syndicate's activities involved more than RM20 million, and took bets on English Premier League, Spanish, German and Italian matches.

"We charged them in court Tuesday under the Betting Act. They are free on bail now but the foreigners' passports have been impounded by the court," he said.

Worldwide betting ring

Aziz said when the police raided the premise, five men were believed to be accepting bets from China and Hong Kong.

Preliminary investigations revealed that they were operating as a branch for a larger syndicate based in Hong Kong, he said.

"We have sought the assistance of Interpol to trace the background of the four Hong Kong men believed to be members of a worldwide betting ring," Aziz said.

During the operation police seized 27 computer monitors, four mobile phones, a fax machine and score sheets.

"The police will come down hard and fast on any illegal gambling. We do not want such activities to mushroom in the country," he added. - AFP