Chinese woman jailed for casino scam

2007-12-14 17:41:50

A Chinese woman, who scammed AUD $750,000 ($646,664.23) from Jupiters Casino on Queensland's Gold Coast, has been imprisoned.

Wei Shan Liu, 44, was sentenced to three years and ordered to pay damages of $115,397.50 to the Australian casino.

The scam took place on May 2005, when she and five other Chinese nationals manipulated hands with a stolen card in several games of mini-baccarat. The trick took less than an hour.

Ms Liu, who was accused of playing an "active part in the dishonest scheme", took AUD $400,000 from the winnings, claiming 21 of the 27 hands.

"It is true that a significant sum of money was unlawfully taken from the casino," said Judge John Newton.

Ms Liu has already served a year in prison and the judge noted that the offender had children who had been affected by her absence.