KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — Four Malaysians were among eight people charged in Las Vegas, US for allegedly running an impromptu gambling operation on the just-ended World Cup football tournament.
The four — suspected high-ranking member of the 14K triad Phua Wei Seng; his son, Darren Wai Kit; Yong Seng Chen; and Yong Wai Kin — were accused of running the illegal betting ring for heavy-betters that they operated online from suites in Caesars Palace in Sin City, according to the AP news service.
Others also charged include three men from Hong Kong and one from mainland China.
According to website pokerstars.com, Phua is well-known on the international poker circuit after winning US$2.3 million (RM7.3 million) in three tournaments. He is described as a regular in some of the biggest poker competitions in the world.
The China-based 14K triad was founded after World War II and is considered one of the most violent mob groups in the country.
During their arraignment, the judge ordered suspected racketeer Phua to pay a US$2 million cash bond, wear a GPS tracker, and put his US$48 million private jet up for collateral as among conditions for bail.
All eight were arrested during a raid on Sunday by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Nevada Gaming Control Board, who also retrieved a laptop computer logging illegal bets and other information.
A US official said the betting ring was set up in Las Vegas after Phua left Macau, the Chinese gaming haven, where he earlier posted bail on June 18 after he was arrested and charged over similar bookrunning operations there.
The eight could face up to two years in a US prison on the charge of unlawful transmission and up to five years for running an illicit gaming operations as well as fines on each count of up to US$250,000.
The World Cup ended on July 14 after Germany beat Argentina in the Final, following host and tournament favourite Brazil’s humiliating defeat to the Germans at the semi-final round.
