Ex-Gillingham player Delroy Facey 'held in match-fixing probe' by National Crime Agency
09:45, 29 November 2013
A former Gillingham player is believed to be among five men bailed after being arrested on suspicion of fixing English football games.
Officers from the National Crime Agency arrested a total of seven people, thought to include three current players and ex-Gills striker Delroy Facey.
The arrests were made in the wake of an investigation by The Telegraph into Asian match fixers targeting games across Britain.
The investigation included a series of covertly recorded conversations, with claims the result of lower league matches could be fixed for as little as £50,000. It has been reported that the allegations concern Conference league clubs.
In the covertly recorded videos, one of the fixers claimed he could rig games - boasting potential gamblers would make hundreds of thousands of pounds by using the inside information on Asian-based betting websites.
Two men were charged yesterday.
A National Crime Agency spokesman said on Thursday: "The Crown Prosecution's Organised Crime Division found sufficient evidence and was satisfied it was in the public interest to authorise charges of conspiracy to defraud.
"The men, who are alleged to be members of an international illegal betting syndicate based in Singapore, are among six people arrested earlier this week as part of a National Crime Agency investigation.
"A seventh man has since been arrested and he and four others were bailed today pending further enquiries."
The two men charged are Chann Sankaran, a 33-year-old Singapore national, and Krishna Sanjey Ganeshan, a 43-year-old with dual UK and Singapore nationality.
They have been remanded in custody and will appear before Cannock Magistrates today.
They have both been charged with conspiracy to defraud, contrary to common law, between November 1, 2013 and November 26, 2013, in Manchester and elsewhere to defraud bookmakers by influencing the course of football matches and placing bets thereon.
The maximum sentence for this offence is 10 years’ imprisonment.
The identities of the teams involved have not been disclosed due to legal reasons.
Facey played for Gillingham in the 2007/2008 season, made 35 appearances and scored three goals.
The 33-year-old has since played for Wycombe Wanderers, Notts Country, Lincoln City and Hereford United. It is thought he has since become a football agent.
A Football Association statement said: "We have worked closely with the authorities in relation to these allegations.
"The FA will make no further comment at this time due to ongoing investigations."
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