Man to stay in jail until cash paid back

A Malaysian national working as a chef at a Bunbury restaurant has been jailed until he pays back $650 he stole by accessing another person’s betting account.

Yap Vui Lock, 34, obtained a man’s TAB account details and pin code while at the Parks Tavern and Restaurant in Carey Park on June 26.

Vui Lock then went to the Highway Hotel in Bunbury where he accessed the betting account and printed out a $650 ticket before going to the TAB agency across the road and withdrawing the winnings.

Vui Lock appeared in Bunbury Magistrates Court on Thursday when, via an interpreter, he pleaded guilty to one count of gaining a benefit by fraud.

The court was told, he told police during an interview that a friend had told him to do it.

Defence lawyer Ntuthuko Mcingolwane said Vui Lock maintained another person was the “head of the operation” but he accepted he had committed the offence.

Magistrate Evan Shackleton said it did not matter how Vui Lock obtained the information and that using personal details to obtain money was fraud.

Vui Lock was fined $700 plus costs of $118.50 and ordered to pay $650 in compensation.

Magistrate Shackleton jailed Vui Lock for up to one month until the compensation was paid.