The Judiciary Police (PJ) arrested two men from the mainland on Tuesday for stealing chips worth HK$45,000 from a gambler from the mainland, PJ spokesman Cheong Kam Fong said during a regular press conference yesterday.
Cheong identified the suspects as a 45-year-old man surnamed Cheng and a 43-year-old man surnamed Zhang who told the police that they are jobless.
According to Cheong, on Monday evening, PJ officers patrolling a casino in Cotai noted that Cheng was acting suspiciously. At the time, Cheng was gambling with a middle-aged male mainland gambler. Early Tuesday morning, the officers discovered that Cheng had been stealing chips from the gaming table during their game. Cheng had stolen the gambler’s chips on five occasions and put them in his coat pocket. Afterwards, he went to a washroom, where he met Zhang who had been waiting there for him. Cheng then handed the stolen chips to Zhang.
The police soon apprehended both Cheng and Zhang. It was only then the victim realised that his chips had been stolen by Cheng. After counting his chips, the victim discovered that he had lost a total of five chips, amounting to HK$45,000, which included five chips worth HK$10,000 each and one chip worth HK$5,000. The victim told the police that he had met Cheng on Saturday evening at the casino, where Cheng claimed to have exceptional gambling skills and offered to help him win money. The victim believed Cheng and gave him HK$30,000 in chips to gamble on his behalf.
The police confiscated the HK$45,000 in chips and two mobile phones from Cheng and Zhang. Under questioning, both suspects refused to cooperate.
The duo have been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), facing charges of theft.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Cheong Kam Fong looks on during yesterday’s regular press conference. – Photo: Ada Lei
