The Judiciary Police (PJ) arrested on Sunday a saleswoman for misappropriation of 320,000 yuan (386,000 patacas), PJ spokesman Ho Wai Lok said during a special press conference yesterday.
Ho identified the suspect as a 35-year-old local resident surnamed Song.
According to Ho, since 2021 Song had been employed at a clothing shop in Cotai, where she was responsible for handling online purchasing on behalf of clients. She was supposed to collect advance deposits in her personal mainland bank account and, after shipping the goods, transfer the funds back to the company. Last month, following personal investment losses, she misappropriated a total of 320,000 yuan in payments from 13 clients that had been deposited into her account, Ho said, adding that she took the money to casinos in an attempt to “win it back”, but ended up losing the entire amount.
Ho also said that in order to delay detection by the company, Song used a mobile app to create a fake screenshot claiming that her bank account had been frozen or restricted. She told her company there was an issue with her account, and also sent falsified medical certificates claiming she was unwell to buy more time., according to Ho.
Ho said that on Sunday, unable to repay the money or maintain the pretence, Song surrendered to the Judiciary Police. PJ officers then seized four smartphones from her, including three work phones.
Song was transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) yesterday, facing charges of computer forgery and breach of trust.
Judiciary Police (PJ) officers escort the hooded local misappropriation suspect, surnamed Song, to a PJ van outside the PJ headquarters in Zape yesterday. – Photo: Armindo Neves
