Two local fugitive convicts – a woman and a man –involved in a pyramid scheme were arrested yesterday morning by Zhuhai police and sent back to Macau in the afternoon, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokeswoman Lei Hon Nei said yesterday during a special press conference.
The two convicted criminals were handed over by the Zhuhai Public Security Bureau (PSB) to the Judiciary Police yesterday afternoon in the area between Zhuhai’s Gong Bei (拱北口岸) and Macau’s Barrier Gate(關閘口岸) checkpoints.
The 32-year-old male, surnamed Lei, is a former civil servant who was the mastermind of the syndicate, while the 37-year-old female, surnamed Un, was a housewife and a key member of the gang, Lei underlined.
Pyramid scheme set up in 2009
The duo set up the pyramid scheme in 2009 after “learning” how to run such a criminal enterprise from a gang based in Nanning, capital of the Autonomous Region of Guangxi Zhuang, Lei noted. Lei also said they recruited more than 30 members in Macau and the syndicate relied solely on new members’ fees to generate profits. Lei pointed out the downline members were unable to get the money they were promised and finally reported the case to the police.
Lei said the case had 10 victims and involved a total of 1.5 million yuan and HK$100,000.
Lei said that the two criminals were sentenced to four years behind bars by the Court of First Instance (TJB), after which they appealed to the Court of Second Instance (TSI) but the sentences were upheld by the Court of Final Appeal (TUI). Lei added that the Court of First Instance then issued an arrest warrant in November 2021, but the local police discovered that the suspects had already fled to the mainland in February 2021.
According to Lei, the police requested assistance from the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department and the Zhuhai Municipal Public Security Bureau through Interpol.
Lei added that the two convicts were immediately transferred to prison in Coloane after their arrival in Macau to start serving their four-year sentences.
A pyramid scheme is a commercial practice or a form of investment that recruits members via a promise of payments or services for enrolling others into the scheme, rather than supplying investments or sale of products or services, according to Wikipedia. As recruiting multiplies, recruiting becomes quickly impossible, and most members are unable to profit, Wikipedia points out.
Three PJ officers escort the male convict back to Macau in an area between Zhuhai’s Gong Bei (拱北口岸) and Macau’s Barrier Gate (關閘口岸) checkpoints yesterday.
Four PJ officers escort the female convict back to Macau in an area between Zhuhai’s Gong Bei and Macau’s Barrier Gate checkpoints yesterday. Photos: Victor Lam
