Yorky Pud

Back in 2008 Australian poker player David Saab had the world at his feet. He had just won the $2,500 event at the Asian Poker Tour for $280,000 and less than two month's later finished 46th in the World Series of Poker Main Event for a further $135,100. But today he is serving a 14-year prison term for drug smuggling.

Saab was arrested back in January, along with his two accomplices Darren Hughes and Robert Remeeus, and charged with attempting to smuggle 14.6 kilograms of cocaine into Australia. Customs and Australian Federal Police intercepted the air-cargo when it passed through Sydney, from Canada, and discovered the drugs concealed in the legs of agricultural equipment. They replaced the cocaine with another material and then monitored Hughes as he hired a van to bring the equipment to his home address, where it was smashed open to access what the trio still thought was cocaine. They were subsequently arrested and charged with drug smuggling.

Saab's barrister, Robert Richter QC, informed the court that his client, who was born in South Korea, had struggled with life in Australia and had been declared bankrupt at one point. He then discovered poker and in 2008 won big in the aforementioned tournaments and it was at this point that Saab aspired to lead a glamorous lifestyle with the rich and famous people of Australia.

Judge Liz Gaynor said that Saab was the ring leader in this particular operation and that he stood to be paid $110,000 for his part in the smuggling. For this reason she dealt him a 14-year jail term, of which he must serve a minimum of ten years. Hughes and Remeeus were sentenced to eight years each and will have to serve a minimum of five years before they are eligible for parole. Upon passing Saab's sentence Judge Gaynor said that Saab had “delusions of wealth” anf that the “illusory world” he had created for himself had been shattered when he was arrested.