Gambling News by Gambling Headquarters

All 23 people charged with offences relating to an illegal gambling den at Senegal's consulate in Singapore have posted bail and are scheduled to return to court, news reports said yesterday. The five people accused of assisting in managing the consulate's premises as a gambling house each posted S$20,000 ($19,600) bail on Friday and were scheduled to return to court on December 8. They include retired businessman Tan Kim Sing, 59; logistics officer Leong Choon Kwai, 34; Johnson Lim Boon Wah, 32; Lee Swee Keong, 32; and Ang Poon Beng, 48, according to The Straits Times report. Police raided the five-storey consulate building on November 3 and found three of its meetings rooms had baccarat tables and the fourth was being used as a bedroom. The consulate was doubling as an illegal casino, packing in up to 100 enthusiasts a night, with bets ranging from a minimum S$100 ($64) up to S$30,000. Another three men and 15 women, mostly Indonesians, were released on S$10,000-bail after indicating they wanted to plead guilty to helping manage the casino as card dealers and dice tossers, the report said. They are scheduled to return to court on November 17. All 23 face fines of between S$5,000 and 50,000 and up to three years in prison. Benny Kusni, the honorary consul, is out on bail of S$10,000. The 36-year-old Indonesian had earlier insisted he knew nothing about the den and only handled visa matters at the consulate. International conventions do not grant honorary consuls immunity from local authorities.