Macau (MNA) – On Monday the trial will begin for a group of 14 gamblers led by Paul Phua, a Malaysian professional poker player, who have been accused of illegal betting involving millions of dollars during the 2014 World Cup, according to TDM Radio Portuguese.
This information had been confirmed to TDM Radio by Icilia Berenguel, the lawyer representing the group of 15.
Phua was a former junket worker in Macau who is connected with Las Vegas and is known as a professional poker player in gaming circles.
The case was made public after the World Cup, with the network having moved around HK$5 billion (US$637.5 million) in the first week of operations, according to the numbers confirmed by the Judiciary Police (PJ) at the time.
More than 20 people were arrested for being associated with the network, which operated in hotel rooms in Wynn.
The group had been receiving requests for bets internationally.
After an inquiry by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the court had ordered a ban on the five members of the group from leaving Macau.
Some 17 members of the group were deported from the city at the time.
The first phase of investigation had ruled out evidence of organised crime, and three of initial suspects had charges dropped against them.
Phua, the ringleader, was reported to have left Macau in a private jet headed to Las Vegas shortly after the PJ operation in a jet worth up to MOP48 million.
In Las Vegas, Mr. Phua had also been accused of an illegal gambling case, where he was subsequently arrested, only to be released in 2015 due to the judge ruling that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had employed illegal methods during their investigation.
The Malaysian Minister of Internal Affairs had written a testimonial indicating that Mr. Phua was of good character, and to deny the businessman’s associations with the 14K Triad.
Under Macau law, the crime of illegal gambling may result in a prison term amounting to three years.
[Correction: From second to first trial on first paragraph and from 17 expatriates to 17 members deported on 8th paragraph]
