RWS dealer who stole $77,000 worth of casino chips jailed
SINGAPORE — A Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) dealer who stole at least $77,000 in casino chips over six months was jailed nine months and six weeks on Thursday (20 June).
Ding Zhipeng, a 28-year-old Chinese national, was also fined $12,000. He will have to serve an additional three weeks in jail should he be unable to pay the fine.
Ding had earlier admitted to one count of criminal breach of trust, one of possessing the casino chips outside of RWS and one count of converting benefits from criminal conduct. Another 13 counts of a similar nature were taken into consideration for his sentencing.
Spent criminal proceeds on luxury items
Ding began working at the RWS casino in July 2017. Sometime in May or June last year, he began stealing casino chips from the gaming tables he worked. Ding would take the chips while no patrons were present.
Between 29 June and 12 November last year, he stole chips worth at least $77,000.
Ding then asked a friend to cash out the chips at the RWS Casino. He could not do so himself as he was a staff member there.
With the proceeds, Ding purchased luxury items for himself and his girlfriend. These included a Breitling watch worth $5,810, which he bought from Mandarin Gallery last October.
On 12 November, a casino security officer called the police after witnessing Ding stealing $1,000-denomination cash chips. After being detained, Ding surrendered two pieces of $1,000 cash chips that he had hidden in his pants.
A search of his rented room later that day produced 72 pieces of $1,000 cash chips and $3,000 in cash.
Accused faced stress as foreign worker: lawyer
Deputy Public Prosecutor Tay Jia En told the court that Ding had embezzled a large amount of money over an extended period of time. Tay added that Ding had also shown premeditation by committing the offences when no supervisor was paying attention.
Ding’s lawyer, John Koh, said that his client faced stress as a foreign worker and had resorted to “improper channels” to make extra cash. Ding had also wanted to earn more money for his family back in China, said Koh.
For converting the benefits of criminal conduct, Ding could have been jailed up to a decade and possibly fined up to $500,000. For criminal breach of trust he could have been jailed up to seven years along with a possible fine. For possessing casino chips outside of a designated area, he could have been jailed up to five years, fined up to $150,000, or both.
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