ACT TAB scam revealed
East Coast Racing
From here - http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/tab-manager-netted-millions-court-hears/story-e6frf7l6-1226020142718
TAB manager netted millions, court hears
* 57-year-old allegedly behind $1.4m betting scam
* Faced 592 counts of theft in court yesterday
* Scam made use of "loophole" in system
PAMELA Susan Close couldn't lose a bet, a court heard yesterday.
The 57-year-old is alleged to have masterminded a $1.4 million betting scam while she was an ACTTAB accounts manager, The Daily Telegraph reported.
In nine years, the Canberra woman - a 20-year ACT TAB veteran - was alleged to have amassed a small fortune using many betting accounts.
Close faced 592 counts of theft in the ACT Magistrates Court yesterday.
According to court documents, Close was employed as the ACTTAB raceday controller, providing her with the access to betting systems. An affidavit tendered to the ACT Supreme Court in December alleged that Close used a "loophole" by placing bets on races after they had started.
From November 2001 to April 2010, Close allegedly had access to the betting system as an authorised manager, which meant she could re-open betting after a false start. This practice is usually reserved for the trots, where punters can place bets after a false start - but before the race has resumed.
Close allegedly started with small bets and spaced out the betting patterns. In 2002, she allegedly used the system to make 38 bets. By 2007 the frequency had risen by half.
The ACTTAB launched an internal investigation last May, weeks after Close is alleged to have made her final bet, which returned $14,656.
Close's lawyer Kamy Saeedi told The Daily Telegraph the case would eventually be sent to the ACT Supreme Court.
He formally entered a not guilty plea to one of the 592 charges against Close. More pleas are expected when the matters return to court on June 23.
TAB manager netted millions, court hears
* 57-year-old allegedly behind $1.4m betting scam
* Faced 592 counts of theft in court yesterday
* Scam made use of "loophole" in system
PAMELA Susan Close couldn't lose a bet, a court heard yesterday.
The 57-year-old is alleged to have masterminded a $1.4 million betting scam while she was an ACTTAB accounts manager, The Daily Telegraph reported.
In nine years, the Canberra woman - a 20-year ACT TAB veteran - was alleged to have amassed a small fortune using many betting accounts.
Close faced 592 counts of theft in the ACT Magistrates Court yesterday.
According to court documents, Close was employed as the ACTTAB raceday controller, providing her with the access to betting systems. An affidavit tendered to the ACT Supreme Court in December alleged that Close used a "loophole" by placing bets on races after they had started.
From November 2001 to April 2010, Close allegedly had access to the betting system as an authorised manager, which meant she could re-open betting after a false start. This practice is usually reserved for the trots, where punters can place bets after a false start - but before the race has resumed.
Close allegedly started with small bets and spaced out the betting patterns. In 2002, she allegedly used the system to make 38 bets. By 2007 the frequency had risen by half.
The ACTTAB launched an internal investigation last May, weeks after Close is alleged to have made her final bet, which returned $14,656.
Close's lawyer Kamy Saeedi told The Daily Telegraph the case would eventually be sent to the ACT Supreme Court.
He formally entered a not guilty plea to one of the 592 charges against Close. More pleas are expected when the matters return to court on June 23.