The Judiciary Police (PJ) arrested a local businessman on Sunday for raping a domestic helper from Myanmar on June 2 and trying to rape her again the following day, PJ spokesman Chao Teng Hin said during a special press conference yesterday.
Chao identified the suspect as a 54-year-old male surnamed Lam who claimed to be a businessman. Chao said that the victim is a young woman from Myanmar.
The suspect, who is married but separated from his wife, lived alone when he hired the victim, Chao said.
According to Chao, the victim moved to Macau three years ago to work as a domestic helper. This year, after leaving her job in March, she returned to Macau late last month looking for new employment. Through a friend’s introduction, Chao said that she went to a residence in Taipa on May 31 for a job interview with Lam.
On June 2, Lam said that he wished to hire her, Chao said, adding that after both had completed the application process for her “blue card” (non-resident worker permit), the victim began working for Lam immediately.
Later that day, Lam suddenly demanded that she kiss him, threatening that if she did not comply, he would not proceed with the follow-up procedures for her “blue card”, Chao said, adding that under financial pressure, the victim felt compelled to give in. Afterwards, Lam raped her. The following day, June 3, Lam again used the same method trying to coerce the victim into sexual intercourse, Chao added. After she explicitly refused, Lam pushed her to the ground in an attempt to rape her again, according to the spokesman.
However, due to the victim’s strong resistance, Lam failed in his attempt and subsequently threw her out of his home, Chao said, adding that after some consideration, the victim reported the matter to the police on Saturday. The Judiciary Police arrested Lam at his home, the scene of the crime, on Sunday morning, according to Chao.
Lam was transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) yesterday, facing charges of rape and sexual coercion.
According Article 157 of Macau Penal Code, rape is punishable by three to 12 years behind bars. Meanwhile, according to Article 158 of the Macau Penal Code, sexual coercion is punishable by two to eight years’ imprisonment.
Judiciary Police (PJ) officers escort the hooded suspect to a PJ van outside the PJ headquarters in Zape yesterday. – Photo: Armindo Neves
