A man from the Chinese mainland was apprehended on Saturday for defrauding a male gambler out of HK$51,000 in chips by posing as a “casino public relations officer”, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Leng Kam Lon said during a regular press conference yesterday.
Leng identified the suspect as a 37-year-old businessman surnamed Song.
According to Leng, the police received a report on Thursday from a mainlander who said that he had met Song on October 1 at a casino in Cotai. Song claimed to be a “casino public relations officer” and accompanied the victim for several days, gambling and dining with him, and even assisted him to book a hotel guestroom. Last Monday, as the victim was preparing to leave Macau, he entrusted HK$51,000 in chips to Song for gambling again on his next visit. However, when the victim attempted to retrieve the chips on Wednesday, Song repeatedly made excuses for not returning the chips. Suspecting he had been scammed, the victim reported the case to the police the next day.
The police identified Song as the suspect and arrested him at a casino in Cotai on Saturday. Leng added that Song had overstayed in Macau for two months. The police seized a smartphone from Song.
Under questioning, Song admitted to defrauding the victim of chips under the pretext of safekeeping them, claiming that he had gambled away all the chips. He also claimed that he had been frequenting various casinos and hotels for the past two months.
Song has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), facing a fraud charge.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Leng Kam Lon looks on during yesterday’s regular press conference. – Photo: Ada Lei
