NLGRB Leads to Arrests, Reinforcing Commitment to Public Safety and Industry Compliance
In a resounding victory against fraudulent activities in the gaming industry, a team from the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) has arrested Mr. Yinghe Chen aged 43 years of Chinese Nationality and a resident of UCB Zone in Bukoto 1, Nakawa Division in Kampala.
This follows an inter-agency investigation between the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) and the National Cyber Taskforce into allegations of fraud by Acclaim BLQ Sports SMC, with its five (05) subsidiary companies.
The National Cyber Taskforce is comprised of National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB), Criminal Investigations Division (CID), Crime Intelligence (CI), Internal Security Organization (ISO), External Security Organization (ESO), Chief of Military Intelligence (CMI), Bank of Uganda, The National Identification & Registration Authority(NIRA), National Information Technology Authority- Uganda (NITA-U), Uganda Banker’s Association, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) among others.
On 11th May 2023, Police arrested Awori Mary, the wife to Mr Yinghe Chen and the registered Director of Acclaim BLQ Sports SMC. On 12th June 2023, Police arrested Akoth Justine Oboth, Achola Mary, and Biira Shamim. These four suspects were all produced in court. This brings the number of those arrested in relation to this fraud to five (05) people.
On 14th October 2022, the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board held a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre to inform the public of the closure of Aclaim BLQ which had been conducting betting activities illegally without a licence from the NLGRB, contrary to the provisions of the Lotteries and Gaming Act No.7 of 2006. Acclaim BLQ Sports SMC operated under the slogan " You lose, You win" which is believed to have attracted many people to the online betting company.
Currently, the estimated number of the defrauded victims stands at 6000 Ugandans with losses of over 4.5 billion shillings.
This operation serves as a reminder of NLGRB’s steadfast commitment to creating a safe and secure gambling environment. By apprehending individuals who seek to exploit the trust of others for personal gain, NLGRB sends a resolute message that such actions will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board will now intensify its focus on investigating and preventing fraudulent activities within the gambling sector, partnering with industry stakeholders, law enforcement agencies, and other regulatory bodies to strengthen existing safeguards and to implement innovative measures.
Public vigilance is crucial in maintaining a safe gambling environment, and the NLGRB encourages individuals to report any suspicious activities related to gambling through their dedicated hotline 0800 100090 or official website www.lgrb.go.ug
With an unwavering focus on public safety, the NLGRB reiterates its dedication to maintaining a fair, transparent, and compliant gambling landscape, promoting a secure environment for all stakeholders involved.
