CRIME: Two detained over embezzlement at local casino

Catarina Pinto

01/04/2014

 

Two suspects, surnamed Chan and Wu, have been detained over an embezzlement perpetrated at a local casino. The Judiciary Police (PJ) revealed in a press conference yesterday that the case involves a casino dealer, aged 22, who stole gambling chips worth HKD50,000, as well as a 21-year-old woman. They then used the money “to have fun, buy fashion-branded bags and diamonds.”

The PJ received a complaint from a local casino related to one of its employees. The gaming operator had caught one of its croupiers stealing gambling chips. Further investigation showed he had committed the crime at least four times.

At first, the suspect took the opportunity to steal a gambling chip worth HKD50,000, which was by the roulette wheel on the table where he worked. He then kept it in his locker.

On another occasion, the man stole a gambling chip and later gave it to a female suspect, surnamed Wu, who traded it for money at the casino.

But on his fourth attempt, the suspect’s previous good luck seemed to fade away, as he accidently dropped a chip worth HKD100,000 on the floor. With the casino operator aware of his illicit activity and further investigation showing he had been committing these crimes since mid-
March, the man was detained, alongside the female suspect.

Both suspects confessed that they had spent the money, buying fashion-branded bags and diamonds.

 

Last week, the Judiciary Police provided figures showing that crimes committed by casino dealers had risen by 85 percent in 2013 year-on-year. The statistics, revealed by newspaper Tribuna de Macau, also show that embezzlement and theft accounted for a large portion of these offenses.

Police authorities also highlighted other crimes related to casinos, with emphasis on kidnapping following cases in which victims borrowed money to gamble, but failed to pay it back.

Two male suspects surnamed Mio and Ieong, aged 23 and 22 respectively, from mainland China, have been detained after kidnapping another Chinese resident.

The victim had borrowed HKD500,000 from the detainees to gamble at a local casino. For each bet, he would have to pay eight percent to the suspects, who also confiscated the victim’s ID documents and three diamond rings. However, the victim lost all the money and was kidnapped. Following a complaint, police authorities were able to find him and detain the two suspects, but the diamond rings are yet to be recovered.

A similar case took place last Saturday, when the police received a complaint from a man, stating his friend had been kidnapped at a local hotel. When the agents reached the hotel room, they only found the suspect, who confessed he had lent HKD50 million to the victim, having then signed a “contract.”

He explained that, besides lending money to the victim, he also confiscated his ID documents. Aged 25, the suspect, a resident of mainland China, was detained and referred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP). But, so far, the police haven’t found the victim, nor could they communicate with the person who filed the complaint.

False police agent tries to swindle money from resident

A person identifying himself as a mainland police officer tried to swindle money from a Macau resident over the phone, the Judiciary Police (PJ) revealed yesterday. The victim realized that he was being fooled in time, but police authorities are calling on residents to refrain from providing any personal details over the phone.

Last Friday, the plaintiff received a call from a man identifying himself as a police officer in mainland China. He informed the victim that he had withdrawn RMB15,000 with his credit card and failed to pay off the debt. The police agent called again later to ask for the victim’s personal details, being able to only obtain information on his Resident Identity Card (BIR), but not on the victim’s credit card.

http://www.macaudailytimes.com.mo/macau/51889-crime-two-detained-over-embezzlement-at-local-casino.html