Aug 16, 2010
African casino cheat jailed
<!-- by line --> By Elena Chong
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<!-- end left side bar --> <!-- story content : start --> A TANZANIAN who cheated Marina Bay Sands casino of about $126,000 - the highest amount to date - by past-posting was jailed a total of 24 months on Monday. This is the longest jail term handed to a casino cheat since the opening of the two integrated resorts in Singapore earlier this year.
Kipuyo Lemburis Israel, 35, pleaded guilty last week to three charges of cheating and one of attempted cheating at the casino's roulette tables on May 20. He had deceived the casino into paying him chips worth a total of $105,175 between 1.43 and 4.02am by placing bets after the winning number had been declared.
His luck ran out when he was caught using the same ruse that afternoon. Seven other charges, including two cheating, were taken into consideration. The court heard that Kipuyo first entered Singapore on May 16 and left for Genting Highlands, Malaysia. Two days later, he re-entered Singapore and gambled at MBS casino.
After having sold his electronic business in Tanzania because he had been involved in heavy gambling, he had spent his leisure time gambling in the casino there. He could have been jailed for up to 10 years and fined on each charge of cheating. For attempted cheating, the penalty is five years' jail and a fine.