A businesswoman from the mainland stole HK$200,000 cash after a failed currency exchange transaction with a local chef, and hid the cash underneath the base of a bottom drawer, Judiciary Police (PJ) Choi Ian Fai said during a special press conference yesterday.
According to Choi, the woman, surnamed Huang, last December met a local chef who does illegal currency exchange as a side hustle, and engaged in three to four transactions. Choi said Huang came to Macau last Monday to gamble, adding that after she gambled away all her money, she called the 40-year-old male chef to exchange cash.
Choi said that after the chef arrived at Huang’s hotel room in Cotai, they could not agree on the exchange rate and no deal was struck, after which the chef went to the bathroom for five minutes.
Choi said that after the chef returned to the bedroom, he discovered that the HK$200,000 in his bag had vanished. Choi pointed out that the chef did not take the bag into the bathroom with him, so he suspected Huang of stealing the cash.
Choi said that Huang denied having stolen the cash at first, so he decided to call the police. Choi noted that after the police arrived, they searched the room carefully and found the cash was placed underneath the base of a bottom drawer in a chest of drawers. Choi said that Huang was arrested at the scene.
According to Choi, Huang claimed to be a businesswoman. She told the police that she stole the cash “in a fit of greed”.
Choi said that Huang was transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) yesterday where she faces aggravated theft charges.
The female theft suspect is escorted by Judiciary Police (PJ) officers from the PJ headquarters to a vehicle in Zape. Photo: Iong Tat Choi
