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Cao Pi
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Jun 29, 2010
S.African casino cheat jailed
<!-- by line --> By Elena Chong
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A SOUTH African businessman who cheated a casino of $14,000 last month was jailed for seven months on Tuesday. Sibongile Arthur Mgxashe, 33, admitted to deceiving dealers on duty at the roulette table at Resorts World Sentosa casino by intentionally placing chips worth $200 on the winning bets after the results were announced on May 20 and 21. On both occasions, he received a payout of chips worth $7,000.
A district court heard that Mgxashe arrived here on May 16 to buy clothes for his business in South Africa. He left for Genting Highlands, Malaysia on the same day, and returned two days later after having lost US$2,000 playing blackjack and roulette. As a result, he decided to 'past post' - which entails placing a bet on the winning number after it has been called - to recoup some losses.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Gay Hui Yi told District Judge Thian Yee Sze that there were aggravating factors in this case. The offences, she said, were pre-meditated and the total amount involved was $31,525, of which only $8,032 had been recovered. Three charges of theft and one of attempted cheating were taken into consideration. Mgxashe could have been jailed for up to 10 years and fined for each count of cheating.