A man from the Chinese mainland has been arrested for fraud, the victim of which was a staff member of a pawnshop, a Public Security Police (PSP) spokesperson said during a regular press conference yesterday.
The suspect surnamed Zhang told the police that he is a businessman.
The staff member reported the case to the police on June 10.
Zhang, aged 40, hocked a smartphone at the pawnshop in Taipa on May 15. He returned to the shop the next day and requested to temporarily borrow the pawned smartphone, claiming he needed it to contact family and friends, and promised to return it immediately after use.
As Zhang was a regular customer, the employee agreed to the request. However, Zhang left with the phone and never returned. The employee subsequently paid HK$8,500 out of his own pocket to compensate the pawnshop owner.
After reviewing the citywide CCTV camera system, the police identified Zhang as the suspect. He was arrested on Thursday last week when he re-entered Macau via the Barrier Gate checkpoint.
Under questioning, Zhang admitted to taking the smartphone, but claimed he had lent it to a friend who subsequently lost contact.
Zhang has been referred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) for further investigation.
This undated handout photo released by the Public Security Police (PSP) yesterday shows two police officers escorting the fraud suspect to a police station in Taipa.
