Surely if you have aspirations to become a police officer someday, then snatching away $125,000 worth of casino chips in full view of CCTV cameras isn't exactly the best way to get closer to your goals.
Gunaway Akay was caught via security footage seizing a handful of chips from a baccarat table (much to the surprise and bewilderment of the dealer) at Melbourne's Crown Casino before sprinting off.
The 39-year-old has pleaded guilty to stealing a total of 25 chips, each valued at $5,000, before he hailed a taxi as his escape route.
As a reason for his display of brazen behavior on December 23, 2016 at the exclusive, members-only Maple Room at Crown Casino, Akay blamed a pile of debts and his girlfriend being served an eviction notice due to late rent payments.
Akay's attorney Kristian Kothrakis told Melbourne County Court that this unrefined crime is always bound to fail.
She said, "How this could have ever worked is beyond comprehension."
Akay said before the court that he lost most of the chips while he escaped, none of which have been retrieved back. Kothrakis said, "When he got home he saw he had only had three chips left. He got home and felt absolutely sick about what he'd done, and the next day he threw them away."
However, Judge Claire Quin doubts the claims and said, "Twenty-two chips, of $5000 chips, and I understand they're reasonably large in size and they just disappeared."
A month prior to the theft, Akay was offered by staff to enlist as a Crown Gold Rewards member, awarding him vouchers and free parking, to which he accepted.
On the day of the theft, he fought with his girlfriend regarding the money which was supposed to be payment for rent but he gambled them away instead. He saw an opportunity to take a row of casino chips to solve his problems. His attorney said, "He just grabbed a handful and ran. Mr Akay was ashamed and had not gambled since the day of the crime. It's a situation he regretted since the moment it happened."
Prosecutor Adrian Trotman said that the offender was brazen and there had been no attempts made to compensate the casino.
The court heard that Mr. Akay arrived in Australia in 1997 after leaving a small Indonesian village where he grew up poor. He spent years living with different families, where he would perform chores in exchange for lodging.
He had been sentenced on July 26, Wednesday and will be assessed for a Community Correction Order.
Source:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4719616/Moment-aspiring-policeman-stole-125-000-casino.html
