Duo claim trial over RM4.6mil casino chip theft

Two men have been accused of breaking into a casino room in Genting Highlands and stealing 1,160 casino chips worth RM4.6mil owned by Genting Highlands Bhd, as the Magistrate’s Court in Bentong charged them.

Koay Boan Seng, aged 32, and Hoo Chee Chuan, aged 38, both pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out before Magistrate Nadhratun Naiem Zainan.

The suspects, along with two other individuals who are still at large, were charged with breaking into a storage room and stealing 1,160 casino chips worth RM4,607,800 from the Twilight 3 room at Sky Casino Genting Highlands at 7.12am on Oct 28.

They were charged under Section 457 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same Act, which provides for imprisonment of up to five years and a fine.

If the offence includes theft, the jail term could be extended to 14 years, with a repeat offence also carrying a fine or whipping.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Zamharir Muhammad Zuhid prosecuted the case while lawyer Kenny Tan Cheng Yee represented both accused.

In asking for a low bail, Tan said Koay was a contract worker earning RM1,800 a month while Hoo earned RM2,000 a month as a farm worker.

The court allowed bail of RM8,000 in one surety for each accused and fixed Jan 10 next year for mention.

According to a report by Bernama on Tuesday, police are pursuing five local men, including the mastermind, in the casino chip heist, which is believed to be the largest chip theft in the highlands resort.

Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman revealed that police had arrested 10 suspects, including a Chinese national, whose ages ranged between 30 and 59 in raids in Genting Highlands, Raub, Kuala Lumpur, and Nilai, Negri Sembilan, between Oct 29 and Nov 1.