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Jailed Crown exec heading home from China

Jason O'Connor, pictured here with his family, is heading home after nine months in a Shanghai jail.

Jason O'Connor, pictured here with his family, is heading home after nine months in a Shanghai jail. Photo: Supplied/ABC

A Melbourne man jailed in China for promoting gambling is due to be reunited with his family after being released.

Jason O’Connor has served a 10-month sentence in Shanghai but on Saturday, the Crown Resorts head of international VIP gambling walked free and is understood to be jetting straight home to Australia.

“We are very pleased that our employees are being reunited with their families,” Crown executive chairman John Alexander said in a brief statement.

“Crown is deeply appreciative of the support provided by our legal counsel over the last few months and thanks the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Australian Government for their professionalism and assistance.”

O’Connor was sentenced to 10 months in prison and fined RMB2 million ($A390,000) after he and 18 other Crown Resorts staff pleaded guilty to charges of illegal promotion of gambling in mainland China.

He is the last Australian linked to the case to be released.

Of the group, 16 were fined and sent to prison, with Crown picking up the combined penalty of almost $A1.7 million.

Chinese authorities launched a sting on Crown operations in Macau in October, when O’Connor was arrested on his way to the airport after visiting to meet with high rollers.

The marketing of casinos and organising overseas gambling trips for 10 or more people are illegal on the Chinese mainland and there has been a recent crackdown as the country works to stamp out corruption.

-AAP

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