Casino token thief nabbed

A 38-year-old Pakistani national was arrested yesterday after he was caught in the act of stealing tokens from slot machines at a casino in Parañaque City.

Police took into custody Muhammad Wahid Raja, a resident of 304 Cima street, Perpetual Village, Taguig after he was caught tampering with slot machines No. 78 and 79 at the Casino Filipino along the Ninoy Aquino Avenue in Barangay Sto. Niño.

Parañaque police chief Superintendent Ronald Estilles said Wahid Raja managed to steal 10 tokens, worth P200, from the slot machines by the use of a plastic drinking straw and coffee stirrer.

He said the suspect used the straw to suck the token out of the slot of the machine.

"Security officials later saw him picking up the tokens from the ground," Estilles said. "He must have lost in a game and tried to get his money back."

Casino Filipino assistant security office chief Brix Nabunat turned over the suspect to police after a formal complaint was filed.

Wahid Raja is now facing theft charges before the City Prosecutor’s Office. – Edu Punay