Singapore police arrest Senegal's honorary consul on charges of running illegal casino

Police have arrested Senegal's honorary consul on charges of running an illegal gambling house that was busted last week in the consulate offices, police and newspaper reports said Wednesday.

A police statement said a 36-year-old Indonesian man was detained Tuesday "for assisting in the management of a place kept and used as a common gaming hall."

The Straits Times newspaper identified the man as Benny Kusni, Senegal's honorary consul. A police spokeswoman confirmed the newspaper report.

Kusni, who maintained his innocence in an interview with The Straits Times on Monday, faces three years in jail and a fine of up to 50,000 Singapore dollars (US$32,000; Ђ25,000) if convicted.

Honorary consuls are not entitled to diplomatic immunity, reports AP.

The detention follows the bust last Friday of a gambling ring in the offices of the Senegal consulate. Thirty-one people were arrested in the raid, including three local members of the Senegal Trade and Investment Committee.