Three people accused of paying pokies patrons to hand over their winnings allegedly spent six to 12 hours a day laundering $4.7 million at two Melbourne gaming venues, a court has heard.
The syndicate's alleged ringleader, Springvale South woman Tram Tran, 49, along with pensioners Xuan Huynh, 63 and Lan Lam, 61, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday.
The trio are each facing one charge of engaging in conduct in relation to money or property where the value has more than $1 million, after being arrested by the Australian Federal Police.
All three have been released on bail with strict conditions, including that they are banned from entering any licensed gaming or casino venue in Victoria, the court heard.
They cannot go within 500 metres of an international departure point, have surrendered their passports and cannot leave Victoria unless police consent 72 hours beforehand.
Tran allegedly spent 12 hours a day laundering money at two gaming venues between November 2021 and September 1 this year, prosecutors said.
Huynh and Lam, who are pensioners from Noble Park, were accused of spending six hours each weekday at the venues.
Prosecutors are seeking CCTV camera footage from the two venues, as well as footage from several Melbourne banks.
Lawyer Jacinta Robinson, representing Huynh and Lam, said police were still in possession of their Medicare, health and pension cards, along with medical prescriptions.
All three had their bail extended and will next face court on February 16, 2023.
The AFP on Wednesday alleged the trio paid cash to jackpot winners if they handed over their winning cheques at venues including Greyhounds Entertainment in Springvale.
It's alleged the syndicate came unstuck when AFP partner agencies noticed a high number of cheques being issued from the same group of people.
