Australian workers jailed in China gambling case

Defendants pleaded guilty and 16 were given sentences of up to 10 months

AChinese court yesterday convicted 19 current and former employees of Australia’s Crown Resorts company on gambling-related charges, handing jail terms to 16 of them, including three Australians.

The defendants pleaded guilty and 16 were given nine- and 10-month sentences, which include time served since they were arrested in October, meaning they could be released over the next two months.

They were fined a total of $1.25 million (Dh4.59 million). Three others who were granted bail in November were neither fined nor jailed.

The casino company and Australia’s consul general in Shanghai announced the verdicts after the half-day trial was held behind closed doors at Baoshan District Court.

A court official confirmed the ruling. Gaming is illegal in China and companies are not allowed explicitly to advertise gambling but few details of the accusations have been released since last year’s arrests.