Singapore man imprisoned for involvement in illegal gambling due connection with LaLiga soccer club owner

Kho Bin Kai, who was previously married to the daughter of Peter Lim, the owner of LaLiga soccer club Valencia CF, is facing legal issues in Singapore. According to Channel News Asia, he has been sentenced to a few years in prison due to his association with a syndicate that runs various illicit gambling websites.

Kho Bin Kai and socialite Kim Lim, Peter Lim’s daughter, were married for three years before their relationship ended in 2020 due to irreconcilable differences, although Lim never explicitly confirmed the reason behind the split.

It is speculated that Kho’s detention on charges of illegal gambling may have played a role in their divorce. Recently, Kho appeared in court for sentencing, and a judge ordered him to serve a 2-year and 10-month prison sentence and pay a fine of SGD40,000 (US$30,124).

Living the high life in Singapore

Living the high life in Singapore can be challenging, given the country’s strict anti-gambling laws that only allow for limited approved options. Despite this, Kho Bin Kai chose to disregard the law and helped promote several illegal online gambling platforms.

According to prosecutors, Kho started promoting various sites from as early as 2012, leveraging his connections to build a lucrative business. Initially earning SGD5,000 (US$3,765) per month, he eventually expanded his empire. At its peak, his earnings from just one platform reached SGD40,000 per month.

In 2019, Singaporean authorities carried out a raid on illegal gambling operations across the country, resulting in the arrest of 36 individuals, including Kho. Police confiscated luxury watches, mobile phones, and other items, along with laptops containing evidence of his illicit activities.

At the time, Kho was still married to Kim Lim, and the raid exposed his activities, putting the family in an unwelcome spotlight. Although his lawyers presented him as a reformed man who deeply regretted his actions, the court found him guilty of three counts of violating Singapore’s Remote Gambling Act and two counts of benefiting from criminal conduct.

Despite his pleas, the judge sentenced Kho to imprisonment, which he will begin serving on May 23.

Peter or Kim Not Involved

There is no evidence to suggest that Peter or Kim Lim were involved in Kho Bin Kai’s illegal gambling activities, although they may have been aware of them. Neither of them faced charges or had to defend themselves against any allegations of wrongdoing.

Peter acquired a 70% stake in Valencia FC in 2014 after amassing a fortune of $2.7 billion in the finance sector. He also has interests in Salford City FC in the English Premier League and UK-based luxury sports car maker McLaren Automotive.

Meanwhile, Kim leads the lifestyle of a billionaire’s daughter, frequently traveling around the world and documenting her experiences on social media. She is also a committed philanthropist, donating a significant portion of her earnings to charitable causes.

However, the past few years have been tumultuous for the 31-year-old. After divorcing Kho, with whom she has a five-year-old son, Kim married tech entrepreneur Leslie Leow in February 2022. However, they filed for divorce just two months later and finalized their separation in February of this year.