IF OCTAVIUS Tok had been staying at another hotel and not Marina
Bay Sands (MBS), chances are that he would not have been able to
chalk up an alleged bill of almost $1 million.
It was reported in The Straits Times on Thursday that the
37-year-old is being sued by MBS for $620,000 in unpaid bills.
The hotel alleged that during his two-week stay, Tok, a former
racehorse owner who is separately facing charges over an April 14
armed robbery, ran up a bill totalling $965,835, including $522,481
worth of alcohol, 5,285 packs of cigarettes, and 62 phone top-up
cash cards.
The Straits Times understands that hotels set a limit on how
much guests can bill to their rooms and this is monitored to ensure
payment. The limit is usually linked to the cost of the length of
stay, plus an estimate of what a guest would spend on extras such
as room service or meals.
In Tok's case, the limit may not have applied as he was a VIP
player at the casino at MBS.
A former MBS staff member, who declined to be named, said Tok is
a big player at the casino and would come with about $1 million in
capital. 'Most casino hotels give some leeway to their big players
as to how much they can charge to their rooms.'
-- ST
