Couple arrested over $784,000 Casino win after staff spotted detail on T-shirt
A husband and wife from Kazakhstan were arrested at a casino in Australia last week, having fraudulently 'won' almost $800,000, after a detail on their clothing gave their con away to police.
Alisherykhoja Israilov, 44, and his 36-year-old wife Dilnoza were apprehended by New South Wales Police on Thursday (27 Nov), after staff in central Barangaroo, Sydney casino filed a report, claiming to have noticed something odd about the couple.
The Israilovs had arrived Down Under after a direct flight from their home country back in October, applying for memberships to the Crown Casino on Sydney's waterfront that same day.
In the weeks since, they visited the gambling facility on a number of occasions, racking up winnings that totalled around $1,179,412.50 AUD.
Advert
Their success streak came to a sudden end last week, however, after staff noticed something unusual embedded within a Mickey Mouse t-shirt being worn by Dilnoza.
Upon closer inspection, they clocked into a small, secret camera woven into the t-shirt's fabric.
Police on the scene also discovered subtle ear pieces hidden by the couple, as well as 'magnetised probes' and a mirror attachment for a phone, all of which were allegedly used to rig games.
The phones were being used to capture and view images of the casino's tables, and were attached to spying devices which would instruct them how to play their next move.
"On Thursday a 36-year-old woman was observed by casino staff wearing a small, discreet camera attached to her shirt," a police spokesperson told press, as per The Independent.
"Officers were notified and attended the casino, where they arrested the woman and her 44-year-old husband."
They continued: "With their mobile phones capturing images of the table, the pair communicated using deep-seated earpieces through which they received instructions to wager on different card games and ultimately cheat the casino."
The Israilovs - who are currently being held in custody - have since been charged with dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage.
They also wore hidden earpieces, through which they allegedly received instructions on when to wager on card games.
Though these instructions were given through earpieces, NSW Police have since informed the BBC that they're not on the lookout for another individual to charge with the alleged con.
'Gambling props; were also found in the Israilovs' nearby accommodation, as well as high-end jewellery and €2,000 cash - the equivalent to around £1,750, or $2,320.
According to The Guardian Australia, having been denied bail in court on Friday (28 Nov), Alisherykhoja will appear in court on 11 December, whilst Dilnoza will return in February.
Rhianna Benson