A 35-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an hour-long blackout at the Marina Bay Sands(MBS) casino last Wednesday.

It’s believed the suspect is a disgruntled engineer employed by a subcontractor of the Integrated Resort(IR), which has been plagued by a series of blackouts since its official launch late last month.

The blackout on May 12 began twenty minutes after midnight and lasted an hour, affecting the casino gaming floor in MBS. Back-up power was activated so as to ensure minimal disruption to guests, a spokesperson for the casino told The Straits Times. Casino patrons left the building and returned when power was restored.

Two days earlier, a power failure also affected MBS’ retail stores for five minutes.

MBS confirms that a police report has been made regarding the recent disruption of power on its property.

According to Chinese daily Lianhe Wanbao, the suspect had apparently been unhappy with his job before the incident and has used his employer’s computer account to trigger the blackout. The case is being investigated under the Computer Misuse Act and if found guilty, the suspect can be fined up to $5,000 or jailed up to two years, or both.

MBS’ power supply woes began earlier this month at the Inter-Pacific Bar Association's(IPBA) conference where the stage lights went out while the Chief Justice of New South Wales in Australia, Mr James Jacob Spigelman,was giving a speech. Power was restored only half an hour later while several delegates reportedly left, and those who remained were moved to a smaller hall.

The incident topped a series of discomfitures for the delegates at the IR, where IPBA had booked 400 rooms for its conference. Guests told Mediacorp about luggage reaching their rooms only two hours after check-in, three-hour power failures in their rooms and air conditioners not working.

Other delegates complained of having to change their rooms three times before finding satisfactory working amenities while one guest was led into a room only to find it already occupied by another couple. Some, including Mr. Spigelman, were trapped in hotel lifts for up to 20 minutes.

Indian lawyer Sumeet Kachwaha, who sits on the IPBA Council, told TODAY newspaper that the facilities at MBS created “a very bad impression of Singapore”.

The recent power blackouts are but the latest in the slew of problems plaguing the newly-opened MBS.

With blacklash from the public over the $3 taxi surcharge, steep carpark rates as well as the S$100 casino levy, one wonders if MBS really is worth the price, or the hype.

What A shocking news.... haizzzz. 1st is the singapore flyer than the Sentosa roller coaster and then casino is now giving problems. Guess what? I been to the IR and i saw the casino. There is peek holes and i SAW IT. Go to the Level 1 casino then go down the escalator then can see le :) And It was amazing.... And then i notice the signboard for casino no Malay words. ONly for the casino... well, its abit unfair to the malays, however, having this casino would help the economic of singapore alot... Thumbs up!! There are still alot of things need to do. Alot lot more... maybe finish next year ba... JIA YOU SINGAPORE!!!

So tmr have SL interview... YEAPPII! CAN't Wait.. :) And then today is so boring.... :O

P.S: wish me luck tmr... Alejandro~