The police announced yesterday that six teens – three boys and three girls – physically assaulted a girl on a residential estate podium on Monday.
During the incident, one of the boys ordered the three girls to punch and kick the victim, while the other two boys cheered and egged them on.
The six teenage suspects, who are enrolled across five different schools, are aged between 11 and 15. The victim’s exact age was not revealed, though all seven individuals involved are local residents.
The police investigated the case, which occurred on Monday evening, after becoming aware of a video clip circulating online that showed a schoolgirl being physically assaulted by several other teenagers. By Tuesday, officers had identified both the victim and the six youngsters who allegedly attacked her.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Cheong Kim Fong announced details of the case during a special press conference yesterday afternoon.
The Judiciary Police launched their investigation on Tuesday morning, while their Youth Concern Group contacted the victim’s school and arranged for her and her parents to go to the PJ headquarters to report the incident.
On Tuesday afternoon, the police identified the six teenagers involved and later located them with the assistance of their respective schools and parents. The six teenagers were then taken in for questioning.
According to Cheong, the police investigation indicated that the victim and the six suspects had previously met through a WeChat group containing over 100 teenagers. A feud had developed between them following a dispute over trivial matters within the group chat.
On Monday evening, the victim and a female friend crossed paths with the six suspects while walking past a residential estate in the northern Areia Preta district. After the victim’s friend left the scene as she had something to do, the six suspects aggressively ordered the victim to follow them into an eatery in the estate, forcing her to pay them 200 patacas as a “toll fee”.
When the victim refused, one of the three male suspects ordered the three female suspects to take her to a stairwell near the eatery and punch and kick her. Afterwards, the victim was taken to the podium of another nearby residential estate, where the same male suspect (referred to as the first suspect) again ordered the female trio to continue the physical assault. Throughout the ordeal, the other two male suspects stood by, cheering and egging them on.
One of the two boys also used the first suspect’s smartphone to record a one-minute video of the beating, which was subsequently shared with others.
After being beaten, the victim transferred 200 patacas to the first suspect via her smartphone. However, even after paying the “toll fee”, she was punched and kicked again before finally being allowed to leave. A medical examination later confirmed that the victim sustained multiple bruises.
The police seized the first suspect’s smartphone and recovered the video clip showing the assault.
The case has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) for further investigation. Cheong stated that the six suspects allegedly committed robbery and caused bodily harm, while the male teenager who filmed the assault also faces allegations of illegal recording.
As the age of criminal responsibility in Macau is set at 16, the six teenagers are exempt from criminal charges.
Instead, they can be ordered by the authorities to undergo various types of non-penal correctional measures, such as mandatory counselling. However, Cheong underlined that those under 16 who commit serious criminal offences may still be transferred to Macau’s Youth Correctional Institution.
Meanwhile, the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) said in a follow-up statement that it is highly concerned about the case. Upon learning of the incident, the bureau immediately coordinated with the relevant schools and counselling organisations to provide close, follow-up support for the students and parents involved.
The statement urged young people to strictly abide by the law and think twice before acting on impulse. It also called on parents to remain vigilant regarding their children’s social circles and daily lives.
Anyone in need of assistance can contact the bureau’s counselling services on 2840 1010, the statement added.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Cheong Kim Fong looks on during yesterday’s special press conference. – Photo: PJ
This screenshot captured from a video clip circulating on social media shows one of the three girls (left) punching the victim on a residential estate podium in Areia Preta district on Monday.
The smartphone seized from one of the three boys is displayed in the pressroom of the PJ headquarters yesterday. – Photo: Tony Wong
