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CROWN Resorts (ASX: CWN) employees who were arrested in October last year on suspicion of gambling offences have been convicted today in the Shanghai Baoshin District Court.
A release confirmed that 17 current and two former employees contravened clauses in the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China which relate to organised gambling exploitation.
Of the 19 defendants, 16 were fined a total of RMB$8.62 million, which equates to around AUD$1.67 million. The James Packer-backed Crown Resorts says it will pay the fines.
Of those who were fined, 11 were sentenced to spend nine months in jail and five were sentenced to a lengthier incarceration period of 10 months. It is believed they will have little time to serve as the sentence backdates from the date of their detention last October.
The remaining three defendants who were bailed on 11 November last year were not fined or sentenced to any jail time.
The head of Crown's international VIP programs Jason O'Connor is the Australian employee who has received the most severe sentence. He is required to pay RMB$2 million (AUD$390,000) and spend 10 months in jail.
The other incarcerated Australian citizens are 'Jane' Pan Dan (fined RMB$400,000) and Jerry Xuan (fined RMB$200,000), who will each spend nine months in jail.
One of the other defendants is a Malaysia citizen and the remaining defendants are Chinese citizens.
Business News Australia
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