A man from the Chinese mainland was apprehended on Saturday for usury and defrauding a middle-aged male gambler out of HK$670,000 (687,000 patacas), Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Chao Teng Hin said during a regular press conference yesterday.
Chao identified the suspect as a 43-year-old male surnamed Zhu who works as a surveyor.
According to Chao, the police received a report on April 22, 2019 from the victim, who was approached by Zhu on the afternoon of April 14, 2019 in the VIP room of a casino in Cotai. Zhu offered to lend the victim HK$1 million in chips under the following conditions: the victim would need to deposit an additional HK$1 million in cash; during the gambling period, Zhu would exchange chips for the victim in order to earn a “commission”; if the victim won, he would need to repay HK$1 million at once; if the victim lost, he would need to repay HK$1 million within a month.
Chao noted that after agreeing to the terms, the gambler continued gambling in the VIP room until the early hours of April 15. During this time, the victim won a total of HK$3.16 million. The victim then returned HK$1 million to Zhu and wished to exchange the remaining chips worth HK$2.16 million into cash. Zhu claimed that HK$20,000 needed to be deducted for prior hotel and dining expenses. After the victim agreed, Zhu falsely claimed that the VIP room did not have enough cash on hand and could only exchange HK$1.47 million at that moment, with the remaining HK$670,000 being available for withdrawal the following day. Believing Zhu, the victim handed over all his chips.
Chao added that the victim attempted to withdraw cash from the VIP room the following day, but was unsuccessful. Suspecting he had been scammed, he reported a total loss of HK$670,000 to the police on April 22, 2019.
Chao said that Zhu had withdrawn all the victim’s money and left Macau that day. The police identified Zhu as the suspect and apprehended him on Saturday when he was re-entering Macau through the Barrier Gate checkpoint.
Under questioning, Zhu refused to cooperate. The police seized three mobile phones from Zhu.
Zhu has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), facing charges of fraud and usury.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Chao Teng Hin looks on during yesterday’s regular press conference. – Photo: Ada Lei
