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Edited by Sona59 at 25-12-2023 12:42 PM
In the renowned Marina Bay Sands casino in Singapore, a shocking gambling scam unfolded, involving a Chinese gambler and two dealers who conspired to amass a significant gambling fund of 12,000 Singapore dollars through cunning tactics over 192 rounds of roulette. The exposure of this scam and the subsequent trial became a topic of widespread discussion in society.
The central figure among the defendants was 33-year-old Xu Zizhou, who attracted attention in the casino. His plan involved two dealers, 25-year-old Su Xuanrong and 27-year-old Ding Zhiping. This conspiracy aimed to manipulate the fairness of the casino game to ensure Xu Zizhou's overwhelming success. The core strategy of the entire scam was that whenever Su Xuanrong and Ding Zhiping were on duty at the roulette table, they would receive generous tips if the roulette ball landed on specific numbers favored by Xu Zizhou. These numbers included 32, 15, and 19, which Xu Zizhou considered his ""lucky numbers."" The execution of the scam was extremely subtle because, during each round of roulette, whenever the ball landed on these specific numbers, Xu Zizhou discreetly paid the dealers outside the casino as an expression of his gratitude. The brilliance of this arrangement was that the casino's surveillance hardly could detect any wrongdoing.
However, the secret of this scam was eventually revealed by the casino's surveillance department. They discovered unusual transactions and cash flows, leading to a report to the authorities in late July 2021. This report led to the arrest of the defendants, and they subsequently faced charges in court. During the trial, the defendants admitted their guilt, but their defense lawyers attempted to mitigate their sentences. Su Xuanrong's defense lawyer stated that she had donated blood voluntarily multiple times and had succeeded in only 13 out of 174 rounds of roulette, demonstrating her limited gambling skills. He also claimed that Su Xuanrong regretted her actions and had fully compensated the casino. She requested a lenient judgment from the judge. Xu Zizhou's defense lawyer, on the other hand, argued that the two dealers should receive corresponding punishments. In the final judgment, the court sentenced Xu Zizhou and Su Xuanrong to 28 weeks in prison, while Ding Zhiping had previously been sentenced to 21 weeks.
This case not only reveals the need for the casino industry to remain highly vigilant against fraud but also underscores the urgency of combating gambling fraud. It serves as a cautionary tale, reminding people that illicit means usually do not last, and they ultimately lead to legal consequences. |
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