China sentences 16 from Australia’s Crown Resorts to prison
SHANGHAI — A Chinese court sentenced 16 Australian and Chinese employees of a casino company to nine to 10 months in prison on Monday after they pleaded guilty to gambling-related charges, the company and an Australian official said.
Nineteen defendants, including three Australians from the sales and marketing team of Australia’s Crown Resorts Ltd., were convicted by the court in Shanghai. Three defendants, who had been released on bail last Nov. 11, were not fined or sentenced to prison, Crown Resorts said.
Casino gambling, the marketing of casinos and organizing overseas gambling trips involving 10 or more people are illegal in mainland China. The case against Crown Resorts’ staff came as authorities crack down on gambling as part of a wide campaign against official corruption.
Eleven defendants were sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment and five to 10 months, Crown Resorts said. Their time spent in detention since Oct. 14 will count toward their sentences.