New South Wales PoliceA husband and wife from Kazakhstan are alleged to have used a hidden camera and headphones to fraudulently win almost A$1.2 million (£593,000; $784,000) at an Australian casino.
The pair were caught after staff at the casino in Sydney’s central Barangaroo neighborhood noticed Dilnoza Israilova, 36, carrying the small, discreet camera in her Mickey Mouse T-shirt, New South Wales police said.
She and her husband, Alisherykhoja Israilov, 44, were then arrested. Police searched them and found “magnetized probes” and a mirror attached to a phone allegedly used to manipulate games.
The couple have been charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage and remain in custody.
New South Wales police said the couple arrived in Sydney from Kazakhstan in October and applied for casino membership that same day.
Over the next few weeks, they made several visits to the casino (apparently the Crown on Sydney’s waterfront) and racked up winnings totaling A$1,179,412.50.
This aroused the suspicions of casino staff, who allegedly caught them red-handed on Thursday.
Police said the spy devices were connected to the couple’s mobile phones, allowing them to capture and view images of the table.
New South Wales PoliceThey also wore hidden headphones, through which they 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 people in connection with the alleged fraud.
In a subsequent search of his accommodation near the casino, officers found other “gambling accessories”, high-end jewelery and €2,000 (£1,750; $2,320) in cash.
The couple appeared in court on Friday and were refused bail, NSW Police said.
Ms Israilova is due back in court in February, The Guardian Australia reports, while Mr Israilov is due to appear on December 11.
