Language Barrier Stalls Trial of Chinese Nationals in Shs63M Casino Fraud

The legal proceedings against two Chinese nationals accused of executing a sophisticated casino fraud in Kampala have stalled once again at the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court. The delay stems from the prosecution’s ongoing failure to secure a qualified Chinese language interpreter to assist the defendants.

The suspects, 36-year-old Liu Min and 40-year-old Li Wenshuang, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa. Because neither suspect understands English, their plea-taking session has been postponed for a second time following an initial setback on October 29.

Chief State Attorney Joan Keko explained to the court that although the state was fully prepared to begin pre-trial hearings with a witness present, the proceedings could not advance without proper translation. Defence attorney Farouk Kamulegeya raised no objections to the state’s request for a brief postponement.

Chief Magistrate Neumbe Kidasa granted the adjournment and ordered that an interpreter be secured for the upcoming court session. The case is scheduled to resume for plea-taking and pre-trial hearings.

The charges stem from an incident on October 25 at Pujing Casino, located inside the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala. According to prosecution documents, the accused allegedly used unauthorized electronic devices to manipulate a baccarat machine, fraudulently securing Shs63.5 million. The suspects had reportedly bought chips worth Shs10 million each and placed a joint stake of Shs20 million.

Casino security flagged the suspicious gameplay and withheld the payout. Subsequent searches yielded four Pujing Casino cards, two playing cards from Meline Casino, and two electronic devices allegedly used to compromise the digital system. The accused face multiple charges, including cheating under the Penal Code Act and forging gaming tickets under the Lotteries and Gaming Act.

For more details on this developing story, read the original report on Daily Monitor.