Gambler accused of dealing with $3.6m in dirty money at Gold Coast casino

A HIGH-roller gambler accused of “dealing” with $3.6 million in dirty money at a Gold Coast casino has been released on bail after giving the court a character reference from a senior Korean military officer.

HIGH-roller gambler accused of “dealing” with $3.6 million in dirty money.

A HIGH-roller gambler accused of “dealing” with $3.6 million in dirty money at the Star casino on the Gold Coast has been released on $200,000 bail after giving the court a character reference from a senior Korean military officer.

Lawyers for Byongsam Song were in the Supreme Court in Brisbane yesterday, where the court heard that Song told staff at the Broadbeach casino’s hotel on May 2 that the cash was kept in “three cardboard boxes” and he needed bags to take it to the casino cashier.

Summarising the prosecution’s case, Justice John Bond told the court that after Song checked into the hotel, casino staff went with Song to his room with his friend Wan Choi, where the staff saw “large amounts of cash in clear sealed packaging” in the open cardboard boxes.

Song allegedly put the cash into “canvas bags” and took it to the casino cashier’s gaming safe and began gambling with it, Justice Bond said.

Song has been charged with dealing with property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime and faces a maximum of three years’ jail. He surrendered to police last Friday and was refused bail in the Magistrates Court.

Yesterday, Justice Bond released him on bail after Song’s friend Eun Jung put up $200,000 cash as surety.

Commonwealth Prosecutor Daniel Whitmore said Song told police that the $3.6 million was given to him by a man he had never met before – a man called Nicholas Losurdo – and Song told police that he was not liable for any gambling losses.

But Song also told police that he was gambling with money belonging to his rich mates, and told casino staff that he had brought the $3.6 million from Korea.

During the hearing, Justice Bond remarked about a character reference from a ­Korean military officer who is part of the “joint chiefs of staff” filed by Song’s defence team.

Barrister Tony Morris QC, for Song, told the court that the prosecution’s case was “weak”.

Song is due in Brisbane Magistrates Court today.