Romanian fraudster convicted for swindling casino out of €35,500

A 39-year-old Romanian man was this afternoon handed a two-year prison sentence suspended for four years after he admitted to defrauding €35,500 in the space of 13 hours.

The incident occurred between 13th and 16th September, when the accused, Iaon-Florian Tet – who is currently residing at the Alexandria Hotel in St Julian’s – was caught marking cards while playing ‘three card’ poker at the Oracle Casino in St Paul’s Bay.

The marked playing cards would be altered in a method apparent to the fraudster, and may be done through various methods, ranging from bending and adding marks to a cards to also punching holes through the middle of cards.

The man was apprehended after being spotted by casino personnel.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke handed the man a two-year prison term suspended for four years and also banned him from attending any site licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority for four years.

The accused was also ordered to pay back his winning to the casino.