The Public Security Police Force (PSP) arrested a woman from the Chinese mainland for short-changing on Saturday, PSP spokeswoman Kong Chi Ian said during a regular press conference yesterday.
Kong identified the suspect as an unemployed woman in her 50s, surnamed Yao. Kong also said that the victim is a local resident in her 80s.
According to Kong, on Friday, the victim was walking along Rua do Dr. Soares (蘇雅利醫士街) in the city centre when Yao approached her, offering bananas for sale at three patacas each.
The victim initially took out a 1,000-pataca banknote to pay, but then found smaller change and asked the seller to return the banknote, Kong said, adding that Yao handed back one 100-pataca banknote and ten 10-pataca banknotes, totalling 200 patacas, and then left.
Upon counting the money, the victim realised the amount was blatantly insufficient – she had lost 800 patacas – and immediately reported the matter to the police.
According to Kong, PSP officers identified Yao through the city’s CCTV footage and intercepted her on Saturday. Yao admitted that she had gambled away all her cash and had resorted to using the change-giving trick while selling bananas to defraud customers, Kong said.
Yao has meanwhile been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), facing a fraud charge.
This undated handout photo provided by the Public Security Police (PSP) yesterday shows PSP officers escorting the short-changing scam suspect to a police station.
