BULLDOGS star Ryan Tandy has been arrested

[TITAN PETE]

BULLDOGS star Ryan Tandy has been arrested by police today over the betting sting an an NRL game last year.

A police spokesman told The Daily Telegraph that Tandy was in custody and charges were expected to be made later today.

Tandy has twice appeared before the crime commission this week in relation to the betting plunge in the Bulldogs-Cowboys last year.

Bulldogs CEO Todd Greenbery said he was shocked by the development and was not informed by the police.

[TITAN PETE]

Tandy arrested amid betting scandal

Police say Canterbury prop Ryan Tandy has been arrested for allegedly providing false evidence to a law enforcement agency during the course of an investigation.

Detectives from the New South Wales Crime Command's Racing and Casino Investigation Unit are probing suspicious betting activity during Canterbury's round-24 NRL match against North Queensland last year.

The alleged incident involved a betting plunge on the first points of the game to come from a penalty, with suspicions raised about Tandy's role after he was penalised for lying on Cowboys playmaker Grant Rovelli in front of the posts.

"About 11"15am a 29-year-old man was arrested by police in Sydney's CBD, before being taken to City Central Police Station. Charges are expected to be laid," a statement said.

Tandy's arrest follows three police searches on Tuesday, at a unit in Bronte in Sydney's eastern suburbs and homes in Strathfield and Punchbowl in the city's west.

During the searches officers located and seized relevant documentation and mobile phones.

Firearms and Organised Crime Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis said police were treating the investigation seriously.

"It's not a game, this is real life and police will continue with their investigations in an endeavour to uncover the truth and ensure justice is done," Katsogiannis said in a statement.

"Detectives will continue to use every available resource to uncover the truth and complete their investigation."

The NRL said it is happy for New South Wales Police to continue its investigation.

"We have always believed, following our initial inquiries, that the police were the appropriate people to further investigate concerns and we appreciate the resources they have invested into doing so," chief executive David Gallop said in a statement.

"It remains a police matter and any comment on the investigations as they continue should be through the police until we are advised otherwise."

Police will hold a press conference at Parramatta at 3:00pm (AEDT).

- AAP

[DIEHARD]

Throw the book at him and I just pray that this won't pull up any more roots to other players. We don't need bloody scandel in 2011... This type of thing is inexcusable.

[TITAN PETE]

FORMER first grade footballer John Elias and player agent Sam Ayoub were today arrested and charged as the NRL betting scandal deepened.

The arrests came as police laid a further three charges against Bulldogs player Ryan Tandy when he appeared in court today.

Elias, 48, of Punchbowl was arrested at 9.45am by police attached to a special taskforce set up to investigate the alleged betting scam.

Sam Ayoub, 49, Tandy's manager, was also arrested when he presented himself at Campise police station.

Ayoub's business offices in Leichhardt were also raided. Both men are expected to be charged later today and appear in court.

If found guilty, the pair could spend up to 10 years in jail.

The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged illegal betting activity surrounding the Round 24 NRL match between the Bulldogs and the Cowboys last year.

Investigation head Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis today said investigators had amassed enough evidence that bets had been placed with full knowledge of what would occur in the match in a deliberate attempt to defraud a number of betting agencies.

''These are serious allegations which go to the heart of the game, and ultimately erode public confidence,'' he said.

While police won't speculate on whether any further charges would occur, Det. Insp. Katsogiannis was determined to highlight that the investigation is still ongoing, with further information still to be received from members of the public.

``We've brought individuals to justice and that is what our job is solely to do, uncover the truth and make sure justice is done,'' he said.

Det. Insp. Katsogiannis said the NRL leadership had been very supportive of the investigation, but that many people with knowledge of the scam were still reticent to come forward with information or give evidence.

''We've been in touch with the NRL right throughout this. As I said they have been very patient and understanding. It has been difficult but they have been very very supportive. As far as I am concerned they have wanted to get the right outcome as well,'' he said.

Tandy, 23, faced court today charged giving false and misleading information to a law enforcement agency.

He denied lying to the NSW Crime Commission regarding his involvement in an alleged betting scandal.

He was arrested last month following a probe by the racing and casino investigation unit.

The 29-year pleaded not guilty in Sydney's Downing Centre to four counts of providing misleading evidence to the Crime Commission.

Police today laid an additional three charges against Tandy in relation to three separate incidents relating to giving false/misleading evidence at a NSW Crime Commission hearing.

Tandy appeared today charged with giving evidence that was false or misleading at two Crime Commission hearings.

The other charges served on the 29-year-old forward at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court this morning included fresh allegations relating to an earlier game between the Gold Coast Titans and Tandy's Bulldogs in June 2010, two months before the now infamous Townsville match.

Tandy's solicitor Danny Eid entered pleas of not guilty to all four charges on his client's behalf.

"He gave false evidence about having placed a bet on an NRL club that the club he was playing for was involved in, namely the Bulldogs vs Titans on June 18,'' a police document before the court says.

Detectives from the Racing and Casino investigation unit have also accused Tandy of giving false evidence about ``a conversation discussing his position on the field for the kick-off in the North Queensland Cowboys and Canterbury Bulldogs match on August 21, 2010.''

The third new charge relates to lies Tandy allegedly told the hearing about his betting activity and access to his TAB account.

It followed an early hearing on January 20, where police allege Tandy gave false evidence about his betting activities with a man, former journalist John Schell. Tandy remains on bail and his matter will return to court next month.

Tandy's solicitor Danny Eid entered the not guilty pleas as his client sat silently in the front row of the court.

If convicted Tandy faces up to five years in jail.

[TITAN PETE]

There are only a couple of big named players missing from the original text messages doing the rounds last year so it will be interesting if any other people are charged with anything, i hope not & this is the end of the drama's