The Judiciary Police (PJ) arrested a local salesman on Monday for the embezzlement of around 450,000 patacas, PJ spokesman Cheong Kim Fong said during a regular press conference yesterday.
Cheong identified the suspect as a 34-year-old local man surnamed Wong.
According to Cheong, Wong was hired by a motorcycle company in Areia Preta in mid-December last year.
Wong owed approximately 200,000 patacas to a friend due to gambling debts, Cheong said. Starting in May, taking advantage of the company supervisor’s absence, he privately contacted customers who had already paid deposits, asking them to settle their remaining vehicle payment balances in cash – ranging from 25,000 to 45,000 patacas per transaction.
However, Wong failed to remit the money to the company or place the vehicle orders. By August, a total of 11 customers had been affected. Apart from a portion used to pay off his debts, the remainder was entirely gambled away, according to Cheong.
As customers repeatedly pressed for the delivery of their vehicles, Wong realised he could no longer conceal his actions and surrendered to the Public Security Police Force (CPSP) on the afternoon of August 10. Cheong added that the company involved pledged that it would honour the orders of customers whose payments had been verified, while pursuing criminal liability against the suspect.
Wong has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), where he faces a charge of breach of trust.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Cheong Kim Fong looks on during yesterday’s regular press conference at the PJ headquarters in Zape. – Photo: Armindo Neves
