nsw policeA Kazakhstani husband and wife are accused of using a hidden camera and earpiece to fraudulently win almost A$1.2m (£593,00; $784,000) at an Australian casino.
New South Wales Police said the pair were caught after casino staff in Sydney’s central Barangaroo area noticed Dilnoza Israilova, 36, wearing a small, separate camera on a Mickey Mouse T-shirt.
She and her husband, 44-year-old Alisherikhoza Israilov, were then arrested. Police searched them and allegedly found a “magnetic probe” and a mirror attachment for the phone used to rig the game.
The pair have been charged with dishonestly obtaining financial gain and remain in custody.
New South Wales Police said the couple arrived in Sydney from Kazakhstan in October and applied for casino membership the same day.
Over the following weeks, he made several visits to a casino – reportedly the Crown on Sydney’s waterfront – and won a total of A$1,179,412.50.
This raised the suspicion of casino staff, who reportedly caught him in the act on Thursday.
Police said the spying equipment was linked to the couple’s mobile phones, allowing them to capture and view photographs of the table.
nsw policeHe also wore hidden earpieces, through which he allegedly received instructions on when to bet on card games.
A New South Wales Police spokesperson told the BBC they were not currently looking for any other individuals in connection with the alleged fraud.
In a subsequent search of his residence near the casino, authorities found other “gambling paraphernalia”, high-end jewelery and €2,000 (£1,750; $2,320) in cash.
New South Wales Police said the pair appeared in court on Friday and were refused bail.
Mrs Izrailova is due back in court in February, while Mr Izrailov is due to appear on December 11, Guardian Australia reports.
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