The betting scandal is entering the home straight and the damage is said to have already increased to 470,000 euros. “This is a case of extensive organized crime,” emphasized the prosecutor Hansjörg Bacher. A player could even face up to ten years in prison.
The finale in the fraud process involving manipulated soccer games in Graz: After the start last September, the trial continued this week. Ten ex-players are said to have manipulated 19 matches in 2019, mainly in the Regionalliga Ost, and bet on the falsified results or provoked corner balls. Betting providers are said to have lost around 200,000 euros – but as further investigations by the criminal police have now shown, the damage is likely to be considerably higher. Prosecutor Hansjörg Bacher extended the charges yesterday, the amount of damage has more than doubled to 470,000 euros! “This is a case of large-scale organized crime. It’s not called the betting mafia for nothing,” emphasized the public prosecutor in his closing speech. The expansion of the damage puts one of the accused footballers, who is now at stake for more than 300,000 euros – in particular in trouble – which increases the range of punishment to up to ten years in prison ( serious commercial fraud). The player’s father is believed to be behind the mega scam, but he remains in hiding. The hearings lasted until late in the evening yesterday, but the verdicts are not yet known and will be submitted later.
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