Lebanese ref gives evidence in corruption trial

A Lebanese referee serving time in a Singapore jail has given evidence at the start of the corruption trial of accused match fixer Eric Ding Si Yang.

Ali Sabbagh, dressed in purple prison overalls, avoided eye contact with Ding as he entered the courtroom Monday before revealing details of plans to fix matches.

Sabbagh said he first met Ding, who was calling himself ‘James Zen,’ at Beirut in June, 2012, and was lured by the promise of rich pay days.

Sabbagh told a Singapore court; “I was told I could stop any time but most don’t.”

He identified James Zen as Ding, a 31-year-old nightclub owner who is accused of trying to rig matches in Kuwait, Indonesia and Jordan.