SINGAPORE — A naturalised Singaporean who was to be stripped of his citizenship over his involvement in a global match-fixing syndicate has been given a second chance — though it will be "subject to his conduct and behaviour".

Announcing the U-turn in the authorities' decision on Wednesday (June 27), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a press statement that former S-League player Gaye Alassane would be able to retain his citizenship following a successful appeal.

Last December, the MHA announced its intention to strip the Mali-born player of his Singapore citizenship for being "an active and trusted member" of an international match-fixing syndicate.

In 2013, the 43-year-old was among 14 Singaporeans arrested in connection to a global match-fixing syndicate — including alleged mastermind Dan Tan Seet Eng.

Mr Alassane, who became a citizen in 2003 after marrying a Singaporean clerk at the Football Association of Singapore, was subsequently detained and put under police supervision order for his criminal activities. This included acting as a courier or agent to help fix matches in Egypt, South Africa, and Trinidad and Tobago between 2010 and 2011.

Given the severity of his criminal activities, and the extent of his involvement in the syndicate, Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam had assessed last year that allowing Mr Alassane to remain a Singaporean citizen would "not (be) conducive to the public good".

As a member of a global match-fixing syndicate which was created in Singapore, the former S-League player allegedly entertained and cultivated relationships with foreign nationals in Singapore to draw them into his syndicate's match-fixing activities.

He also purportedly helped move bribe monies for his syndicate into Singapore, and remitted — and even personally couriered — these bribes out from the Republic to facilitate his syndicate's match-fixing activities.

The MHA said that Mr Alassane's actions "not only undermined the integrity of Singapore's financial system, but also law and order". It added that witnesses were afraid of testifying against him and his syndicate members in open court for fear of reprisal.

In January 2016, Mr Alassane was released from detention after he stated he would plead guilty to all the allegations against him, and that he is willing to testify in any criminal trial against the syndicate mastermind Tan.

But last year, on Dec 7, he was served with a notice on the proposed deprivation of citizenship. Subsequently, he submitted an appeal to the Citizenship Committee of Inquiry (CCOI), an independent committee made up of private individuals appointed by Mr Shanmugam.

Announcing the results of the appeal on Wednesday, the MHA said the CCOI recommended that the Mali-born player, be allowed to retain his citizenship on "compassionate grounds".

Taking into consideration his "strong family roots in Singapore", the service he rendered to the community and his conduct since his release, and the lack of an "adverse record" throughout the period of his detention and police supervision, the committee had recommended to the minister that Mr Alassane be given a second chance.

The committee noted that he has been earning an honest living since his release, and he has not re-engaged in any criminal activities.

Not only did he appear "very close to his children, playing an important role in their lives", but the the testimonials provided by his ex-wife and children also attest to his "love, attention and support" for them. At the same time, the mosque where he performs voluntary community service vouched for his "good character".

Given all this information, the committee was of the view that he "appeared to be a changed man who would likely not re-offend".

After taking the committee's recommendations into account, Mr Shanmugam decided to give Mr Alassane "another chance" and "not deprive him of his citizenship for now".

However, the MHA stressed that this was on the condition that he kept up his good conduct and behaviour.

"Should he be found engaging again in any act that is against the public good such as returning to crime, the minister will not hesitate to exercise powers on behalf of the Government to recommence proceedings to deprive him of his Singapore citizenship," said the ministry.