A man from the mainland was arrested on Friday for first stealing the equivalent of 2,200 patacas in cash from a sex worker in a hotel guestroom in Zape and later attempting to force her at knifepoint to transfer money to an account, Judiciary Police (PJ) Leng Kam Lon said at a special press conference on Saturday.
The 27-year-old suspect surnamed Wei told the police that he is a businessman.
According to Leng, a hotel staff member reported a robbery in a guestroom early Friday to the Judiciary Police.
Leng said a man asked a sex worker through a smartphone app to come to his room on that day. In the room, he allegedly threatened the woman at knifepoint and told her to hand over all her cash and valuables and transfer 30,000 yuan via her smartphone. The victim refused after which the man allegedly attacked her with a chair. She escaped from the room and asked for help. The security guard stopped Wei and reported the case to the police.
Leng did not reveal the mainland woman’s age.
Leng said the woman told the police that the equivalent of about 2,200 patacas that she had in cash in her handbag was missing and she suspected that the man had stolen it when she was having a shower. Wei denied committing the alleged crimes and refused to cooperate with the police. PJ officers found the cash in the room as well as the knife Wei allegedly used to threaten the victim who sustained minor injuries to her hands and feet.
Wei was transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) on Saturday, facing charges of attempted robbery and theft, according to Leng.
The attempted robbery and theft suspect is being escorted by Judiciary Police (PJ) officers from the PJ headquarters to a police vehicle on Saturday.
Evidence seized from the suspect such as a knife and cash is displayed at the Judiciary Police (PJ) headquarters on Saturday. Photos courtesy of TDM
