A husband and wife from Kazakhstan are alleged to have used a hidden camera and earpieces to fraudulently win nearly A$1.2m (£593,000; $784,000) in an Australian casino.
The couple were caught after staff at the casino in the central Barangaroo neighbourhood of Sydney noticed Dilnoza Israilova, 36, wearing a small, discrete camera on her Mickey Mouse T-shirt, New South Wales Police said.
She and her husband, 44-year-old Alisherykhoja Israilov, were then arrested. Police searched them and allegedly found 'magnetised probes' and a mirror attachment for a phone that were allegedly used to rig games.
The pair have been charged with dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage and remain in custody.
New South Wales Police reported that the couple arrived in Sydney from Kazakhstan in October and applied for membership at the casino on the same day.
Over the following weeks, they made several visits to the casino—reportedly the Crown on Sydney's waterfront—accumulating winnings totalling A$1,179,412.50. This raised the suspicions of casino staff who caught them in the act last Thursday.
Authorities stated that the spying devices were connected to the couple's mobile phones, which enabled them to capture and view images of the card games.
Casino staff noticed Dilnoza Israilova's attire, which included a hidden camera, leading to scrutiny. The couple allegedly wore hidden earpieces to receive instructions on when to bet on games.
A spokesperson for New South Wales Police disclosed that they are not currently investigating any other individuals in connection with the cheating incident.
Furthermore, a search of their accommodation near the casino uncovered additional gambling tools, high-end jewelry, and €2,000 (£1,750; $2,320) in cash.
Both appeared in court on Friday, where they were denied bail. Mrs. Israilova is due to return to court in February, while Mr. Israilov is scheduled for a hearing on December 11.
