Aspiring police officer faced court for stealing $125,000 from a Crown Casino baccarat table

CCTV footage of aspiring police officer Gunawan Akay’s actions at Melbourne’s Crown Casino really has to be seen to be believed.

IF YOU have aspirations to be a police officer, snatching $125,000 worth of casino chips in full view of security cameras probably isn’t the best way to achieve your career goals.

But try telling that to Gunawan Akay, who was caught on CCTV grabbing a handful of chips from a baccarat table at Melbourne’s Crown Casino before running off.

The 39-year-old pleaded guilty to stealing 25 chips, valued at $5,000 each, before fleeing to a taxi.

Mr Akay blamed debts and his girlfriend being served an eviction notice due to late rent payments for his brazen actions in the exclusive, members-only Maple Room at Crown on December 23, 2016.

His lawyer Kristina Kothrakis told Melbourne County Court the unsophisticated crime was always going to fail.

“How this could have ever worked is beyond comprehension,” she said.

The court heard Akay lost most of the chips during his escape, none of which have been recovered.

“When he got home he saw he had only had three chips left,” she said. “He got home and felt absolutely sick about what he’d done, and the next day he threw them away.”

Mr Akay fleeing the casino

However, Judge Claire Quin had doubts over the claims.

“Twenty-two chips, of $5000 chips, and I understand they’re reasonably large in size and they just disappeared,” she asked.

In the month before the theft, he was approached by staff to become a Crown Gold Rewards member, giving him free parking and vouchers, which he accepted.

On the day of the theft, he argued with his girlfriend about gambling away more money when he saw an opportunity to take a row of casino chips to solve his problems.

“He just grabbed a handful and ran,” his lawyer said.

Mr Akay was ashamed and had not gambled since the day of the crime.

“It’s a situation he regretted since the moment it happened,” she said.

Prosecutor Adrian Trotman argued the offending was brazen and there had been no attempt to compensate the casino.

The court heard Akay arrived in Australia in 1997 after growing up poor in a small Indonesian village.

He spent years living with different families, where he would do chores in exchange for accommodation.

Mr Akay will be assessed for a Community Correction Order and sentenced on Wednesday.

AAP contributed to this report.