Tourist in Singapore Gets Jail for Cashing Slot Tickets Found on Casino Floor

An Indonesian tourist who found eight slot machine tickets on the floor of a casino in Singapore last March and cashed them in was sentenced to four months in jail for the misappropriation of funds.

Silitonga Andri Parulian, a 27-year-old native of Indonesia, was at the Marina Bay Sands Casino when he saw the tickets lying on the floor near the entrance to the casino's Ruby Room. The slot machine tickets, valued at USD $3,000 each, were still live for use in the Sands' slot machines or to be cashed in for face value.

The tickets had fallen out of a folder being carried by a staff member of the casino. Parulian was apparently on his way into the invitation-only Ruby Room to gamble when he happened upon the booty.

Parulian quickly cashed in the tickets at several casino cash out machines and planned on a quick exit from the country. A visit to Changi Airport saw the miscreant a step closer to making a getaway, but finding no upcoming flights departing for Jakarta stopped him in his tracks.

After a night spent at the airport, Parulian contacted a friend who met him at the mall the following day and helped him transfer funds to bank accounts in Indonesia. Meanwhile, casino employees became aware of the missing slot tickets and viewed the casino's closed-circuit TV cameras to discover what had happened.

Parulian was identified as the culprit and airport authorities were notified. When the Indonesian attempted to clear immigration and fly back home, he was apprehended and taken to jail.

While in front of District Judge Crystal Tan last month, the 27-year-old pleaded guilty to one charge of dishonestly misappropriating money. He could have received up to two years in jail, but drew a sentence of four months after apologizing for his actions and requesting leniency.

According to , the stolen funds were never recovered, nor was restitution made.