Dealer contributes to confusion... Floor please!

[Garland]

Here’s a situation that occurred in a live no-limit game recently:

The board reads: J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] Turn 6[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] River: 8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

There’s some action before the river, but I’m not exactly sure how much. Two players left in the pot: UTG and MP. UTG checked subtlety either by tapping lightly or saying “check” lightly, MP then asked the dealer “he checked?” in such a fashion that the word “checked” was emphasized and heard loudly, but the word “he” was deemphasized and somewhat muffled. I, along with other people around him, could probably testify his words were inquisitive and not intended as action. However, the dealer, whose first language clearly isn’t English, believed MP only said “check” and then repeated “check”. Then UTG upon hearing the dealer quickly flipped up his hand to reveal K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]Q[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], but MP is now screaming bloody Mary and wants to bet now. Floor is called over. What is your ruling?

Garland