The Judiciary Police (PJ) have arrested five men from the Chinese mainland after they robbed a young gambler of HK$40,000 (41,200 patacas) in casino chips during an illicit currency exchange deal, PJ spokeswoman Leong Sok Man said during a special press conference on Friday.
Leong identified the first suspect as Xu, 38, a lorry driver; the second as Zhu, 29, who owns a clothing business; the third as Zhao, 42, self-employed; the fourth as Zhu, 33, a logistics worker; and the fifth as Liu, 39, who said that he is unemployed. All five are Chinese mainland residents.
Leong noted that the victim had arrived in Macau on August 29 and was later informed by his cousin that Xu, a friend of the cousin, wished to exchange renminbi for Hong Kong dollars. The victim subsequently contacted Xu via WeChat.
Leong added that the pair agreed to exchange 34,800 yuan (41,800 patacas) for HK$40,000 in casino chips, arranging to meet in a hotel room in Cotai at roughly 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
When the victim arrived, he discovered four other men inside the room. During the transaction, Xu abruptly snatched four HK$10,000 chips from him before the quintet fled the scene, Leong said.
Although the victim gave chase, he failed to catch them. He subsequently reported the robbery to the police at around 12:23 a.m. on Thursday.
PJ officers identified the five suspects and apprehended four of them at the hotel and in the surrounding area at roughly 1:00 a.m. that day. Liu was arrested at the hotel at about 3:00 a.m.
According to Leong, under questioning, the five men admitted to the robbery, adding that PJ officers recovered HK$36,500 in suspected proceeds from them.
Leong also said that the suspects had allocated their roles prior to the robbery. Liu had booked the hotel room, whilst the fourth suspect had agreed with Xu to receive the stolen chips, convert them into cash, and use the proceeds for gambling.
The five men have been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) to face robbery charges.
Leong added that the police would launch a separate investigation into the victim and his cousin, considering that they had engaged in illicit currency exchange activities.
Judiciary Police (PJ) officers escort the five hooded robbery suspects to a PJ van outside the PJ headquarters in Zape on Friday. – Photo: Armindo Neves
