SINGAPORE: The third Lebanese football official implicated in a recent match-fixing case was sentenced to six months' imprisonment on Tuesday.
Referee Ali Sabbagh, 34, pled guilty on Monday, the first day of the corruption trial, along with two linesmen - Ali Eid, 33, and Abdallah Taleb, 37.
The three men each admitted to one charge of accepting sexual gratification from a prostitute in return for fixing a match in the future.
The court sentenced Eid and Taleb to three months' jail each on Monday.
Their sentences were backdated to April when they were arrested. It is understood that they were released on Monday.
In handing down the sentence for Sabbagh on Tuesday, District Judge Low Wee Ping said he agreed that an imprisonment term of six months was suitable for Sabbagh as he was more culpable.
The judge noted that the defence had placed much emphasis on the point that whilst Sabbagh received sexual gratification, there was no agreement between him and Eric Ding Si Yang to fix any match in Singapore or elsewhere.
Ding, 31, allegedly provided prostitutes to the linesmen when they were in Singapore for an Asian Football Confederation Cup match between Tampines Rovers and East Bengal, which was played on 3 April.
Another key point highlighted in court was that while Sabbagh and the other two linesmen received gratification on 3 April, they did not intend to fix the match that was to be played the same day.
The judge however pointed out that the charge was a grave one.
A significant point, said the judge, was that Ding was cultivating Sabbagh, who in turn cultivated Eid and Taleb.
Sabbagh had the potential to influence many football matches as he was a FIFA-accredited referee, said the judge.
Looking relieved, Sabbagh thanked the judge for leniency.
Sabbagh's sentence will be backdated to April.
Referee Ali Sabbagh, 34, pled guilty on Monday, the first day of the corruption trial, along with two linesmen - Ali Eid, 33, and Abdallah Taleb, 37.
The three men each admitted to one charge of accepting sexual gratification from a prostitute in return for fixing a match in the future.
The court sentenced Eid and Taleb to three months' jail each on Monday.
Their sentences were backdated to April when they were arrested. It is understood that they were released on Monday.
In handing down the sentence for Sabbagh on Tuesday, District Judge Low Wee Ping said he agreed that an imprisonment term of six months was suitable for Sabbagh as he was more culpable.
The judge noted that the defence had placed much emphasis on the point that whilst Sabbagh received sexual gratification, there was no agreement between him and Eric Ding Si Yang to fix any match in Singapore or elsewhere.
Ding, 31, allegedly provided prostitutes to the linesmen when they were in Singapore for an Asian Football Confederation Cup match between Tampines Rovers and East Bengal, which was played on 3 April.
Another key point highlighted in court was that while Sabbagh and the other two linesmen received gratification on 3 April, they did not intend to fix the match that was to be played the same day.
The judge however pointed out that the charge was a grave one.
A significant point, said the judge, was that Ding was cultivating Sabbagh, who in turn cultivated Eid and Taleb.
Sabbagh had the potential to influence many football matches as he was a FIFA-accredited referee, said the judge.
Looking relieved, Sabbagh thanked the judge for leniency.
Sabbagh's sentence will be backdated to April.
As you can read on the later part, it says "Ding, 31, allegedly provided prostitutes to the linesmen".
