BOCHUM, Germany (AP) — A chief suspect in what officials have described as Europe’s biggest soccer match-fixing scandal has been unexpectedly released on bail after 17 months in prison.
Ante Sapina was released on bail of $72,300 Friday after providing a comprehensive confession to the court.
Sapina was one of six men on trial this month in Bochum, Germany, accused of fixing 47 soccer matches. Sapina had testified that there was no clear organized leadership.
On Thursday, the court sentenced three members of the betting ring to prison terms of up to three years, 11 months.
In 2005, the 35-year-old Croat was convicted as the mastermind of a match-fixing ring and sentenced to 35 months in prison. Sapina was released early, and said he resumed betting on manipulated games shortly after the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
