I would like to think that the following tale only could have taken place in a far-off third world country. The truth is that it could happen here or anywhere else.

Eric Ding Si Yang, a Singaporean businessman at the center of a sex-for-match fixing case has been given a fresh charge of theft. What would a businessman of Yang’s caliber steal? Evidence, of course. As reported in www.google.com.

The 31-year-old Yang, who is accused of trying to rig an AFC Cup football match by procuring sex workers for three Lebanese referees, was given seven days in custody because of the new charge.

High End Theft and Concealment

Ding was being interviewed at the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau when he tried to hide a personal receipt issued by a law firm. Ding stuffed the receipt in his sock after he was asked to open a safe containing his belongings. The significance of the receipt was unclear.

If convicted of theft, Ding faces a maximum of seven years in jail and a fine. He had earlier pleaded not guilty to three counts of corruption.

Ding is accused of supplying free prostitutes to persuade the three referees to fix an AFC Cup match in Singapore on April 3rd. The referees, all of whom apparently accepted the bribe, were replaced before the match and are now being held at Singapore's Changi Prison.

Ding and the three referees face maximum prison terms of five years and fines of up to Sg$100,000 for each count of corruption in relation to the match-fixing case.

I hope they all take stop theft classes and seek counseling for moral turpitude.