The Judiciary Police (PJ) arrested a domestic helper from Indonesia on Tuesday for usury and the improper retention of 51 identification documents, PJ spokesman Ho Wai Lok said during a special press conference yesterday.
Ho identified the suspect as a 43-year-old female surnamed Srirosmulyati.
According to Ho, the Judiciary Police (PJ) received a referral from the Public Security Police (PSP) on Friday about a non-resident who had borrowed a total of 4,000 patacas from Srirosmulyati between October and November due to urgent medical expenses for a family member. The victim was required to make a monthly repayment of 20 percent of the principal as “interest,” in addition to handing over his or her passport as collateral. Unable to repay the debt, the victim managed only to pay 600 patacas in “interest,” failing to clear the principal. After requesting the return of the passport to sort out work matters but being refused, the victim reported the case to the police.
The police apprehended Srirosmulyati on Tuesday at a flat in San Kio (新橋), recovering 51 passports and a blue card belonging to 50 victims from the same country. Ho did not reveal the home country of the victims.
The police later found three of the victims who had borrowed amounts, ranging between 3,000 and 4,000 patacas, due to urgent financial needs for medical or school expenses, and they too had only managed to repay partial “interest,” without clearing the principal.
Ho noted that since December 2024, Srirosmulyati had lent money to around 60 individuals who faced urgent issues at home, such as medical or school fees. The amounts borrowed ranged from 500 to 5,000 patacas, with conditions including a monthly repayment of 20 percent of the principal as “interest” and the requirement of handing over their passport as collateral. Borrowers could only reclaim their passports upon full repayment of the principal. Ho added that Srirosmulyati had earnt about 90,000 patacas through her usurious lending.
Srirosmulyati was transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) yesterday, facing charges of usury and improper retention of others’ passports.
Judiciary Police (PJ) officers escort the hooded Indonesian usury suspect to a PJ van outside the PJ headquarters in Zape yesterday. – Photo: Ada Lei
