A card dealer at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) casino was sentenced to a year and three weeks in jail after stealing S$55,000 worth of casino chips by concealing them in his pants. Oumnakil Thanakorn, a 35-year-old Thai national, used a deceptive method involving a piece of paper to hide his actions before slipping high-value chips into his waistband or trousers through the zipper.
Modus Operandi and Crimes
Thanakorn, who began working as a dealer at the casino in December 2022, was responsible for games like pontoon, roulette, and baccarat. Starting in April 2024, he exploited his position of trust to misappropriate chips from the gaming tables where he was stationed.
To carry out the thefts, he covered his hand with a piece of paper while removing chips—primarily S$1,000 chips and occasionally S$500 chips—from the dealer’s float. He then discreetly transferred the chips into his trousers. Over three months, Thanakorn pocketed chips on at least 29 occasions.
Collaborators and Money Laundering
To avoid detection, Thanakorn enlisted the help of two women, Buengloy Ananyaporn and Techawattanasakul Warattharin, to convert stolen chips into cash in exchange for a commission. Between May and July 2024, the women cashed out S$37,000 worth of chips, handing the proceeds back to Thanakorn. Ananyaporn handled S$32,500, while Warattharin exchanged S$4,500. None of the money was recovered.
Initially, Thanakorn used the stolen funds to repay debts in Thailand and support his daughter. However, he continued stealing even after settling his debts, using the money for personal expenses.
Arrest and Sentence
Authorities apprehended Thanakorn in July 2024. During the arrest, police recovered S$10,000 worth of chips from his residence, locker, and on his person. However, no restitution was made for the remaining amount.
The prosecution highlighted the significant trust RWS placed in Thanakorn and sought a jail term of 12 to 14 months. He pleaded guilty to three charges, including criminal breach of trust and instigating others to launder criminal proceeds, with two additional charges considered during sentencing.
The penalties for criminal breach of trust as a servant can include up to 15 years in jail and a fine. For money laundering or inciting others to participate, offenders face up to 10 years in jail, a fine of up to S$500,000, or both.
