South Korea police launch sports fixing, gambling probe

South Korean police announced Tuesday a formal investigation into match-fixing and illegal gambling by more than two dozen current and former sportsmen, mostly basketball and judo players.

Police said the probe had been triggered by an alleged game-rigging incident in February this year, involving a 29-year-old basketball player -- identified only by his surname Kim.

Kim was suspected of helping throw a match by intentionally missing a number of baskets at the request of a fellow gambler and 28-year-old judo player, a police statement said.

Twenty four other current and retired players -- 11 in basketball, 12 in judo and one in wrestling -- are also being investigated for alleged gambling on sports fixtures using illegal Internet betting sites, the statement said.

The wagers ranged from just one million won ($830) to hundreds of millions of won.

Local media reported that Kim Seon-Hyeong, a star basketball player for SK Knights, was among those being questioned over illegal gambling.

Professional sports in South Korea have been rocked by a series of scandals in recent years, touching football, volleyball, basketball and even motorboat racing.

In 2013, basketball legend and star coach Kang Dong-Hee was convicted of match fixing and was permanently banned by the basketball league.

In 2011 prosecutors charged 57 people -- 46 current and former players and 11 criminal gang members and bookmakers -- with fixing the results of 15 matches in the professional football K-League.

South Korea has tough laws restricting gambling and the government has stepped up a crackdown on illegal Internet betting sites in recent years.
Source: AFP