New game fixing scandal hits baseball; probe begins

The Banqiao District Prosecutors Office raided lockers, dorms and homes of six players on the Elephants team yesterday, plus three witnesses as well on underground betting bookies around the country.

The prosecutors also issued summonses to 17 people, including the baseball players, for questioning in connection with the investigation.

The latest investigative action is believed to have been taken now on concern that some players who returned for the season could leave the country again as the 2009 season officially concluded on Sunday.

All the players involved in the case vehemently denied the allegation for possible foul play.

The main focus of the probe, which covers the alleged fixing of games in Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) from May to September, is an underground bookie with the family name of Tsai, who goes by the nickname “Windshield Wiper.”

Prosecutors believe Tsai enticed players to throw games or manipulate the final score in ways to help the bookie's syndicate cash in on illicit bets.

According to evidence collected by the Taipei branch of the Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau, the players rigged games in a number of ways, including throwing easy pitches to hit, walking batters, purposely committing fumbles or deliberately striking out.

Once the gambling syndicate run by Tsai cashed in on its bets as a result of the players' actions, it would then pay off the players through intermediaries, the Investigation Bureau believes.

Though the investigation has been underway for a while, prosecutors wanted to wait for the league's showcase, the best-of-seven Taiwan Series, to conclude before summoning persons of interest for questioning and conducting raids.

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