A local man has been arrested for illegally operating a mahjong parlour in a shop in Patane district, while four local male gamblers who were there when the police raided the premises were taken in for questioning, Public Security Police (PSP) spokeswoman Lai In Hong said at a regular press conference yesterday.
Lai identified the suspect surnamed Lei as a man in his sixties, while the four gamblers are aged between 55 and 65.
According to Lai, the police received a report from a resident on Saturday that an illegal mahjong parlour was suspected of operating in a shop in Patane. The police raided the parlour on Sunday and arrested Lei and the gamblers on the spot.
Under questioning, Lei admitted to having operated the illegal mahjong parlour since May. He told the police that he rented the place for 7,800 patacas and charged each mahjong table 200 patacas for four hours, as well as each winner 50 patacas per game. Lei said that he had earned about 4,000 patacas since starting the business.
The case has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) for further investigation, Lai said, adding that Lei faces a charge of running an illegal gambling business.
According to local law, only gaming concessionaires are allowed to run games of chance.
This undated handout photo provided by the Public Security Police (PSP) yesterday shows PSP officers escorting the five illegal mahjong parlour suspects to a police station.
