British media reported on November 30 that a couple from Kazakhstan were accused of using hidden cameras and headphones to commit fraud and won nearly 1.2 million AUD (784,000 USD) at an Australian casino.
New South Wales state police said that staff at a casino in the Barangaroo area, central Sydney discovered Dilnoza Israilova (36 years old) wearing a small, sophisticated camera mounted on a T-shirt with the face of a Mickey Mouse.
She and her husband - Alisherykhoja Israilov (44 years old) - were later arrested. The police searched and found a "magnet tracker" and a mirror accessory for a phone, which was believed to have been used to interfere with the game.
The couple was accused of cheating for illegal profits and is still in detention.
According to the police, the couple arrived in Sydney from Kazakhstan in October and registered for a casino membership as soon as they arrived in Australia. In the following weeks, the two went to the casino - rumored to be Crown Sydney - many times and accumulated an accurate win of 1,179,412.50 AUD.
This unusually large amount of money made the casino staff suspicious and they were caught red-handed on November 25.
Police said the recording devices were connected to the couple's phones, allowing them to record and view images of the playground. They also use hidden headphones to get instructions on when to bet in card games.
A New South Wales police spokesperson said they are not currently searching for any other suspect involved in the fraud.
Searching the residence near the casino, the police discovered additional gambling tools, expensive jewelry and 2,000 euros ($2,320) in cash.
The couple appeared in court on November 26 and were denied bail. According to local media, the wife will return to court in February, while the husband is expected to appear in court on December 11.
