The trial of former Macau gaming junket magnate Alvin Chau Cheok Wa has been postponed to September 19, as just 10 of the 21 defendants appeared in court this afternoon, judicial sources told The Macau Post Daily.
The high-profile trial started this afternoon but was formally postponed by the three-judge panel shortly after it had started because of the absence of one of the defendants, Philip Wong Pak Ling, who, according to this lawyers, is currently hospitalised.
The government is also suing seven of the defendants, including Chau and Wong, for HK$8.2 million in unpaid gaming taxes, according to a statement by the Court of First Instance (TJB).
Chau was among those present.
Chau, born in Macau in 1974, headed the now defunct junket company Suncity Group.
Chau and six of his co-defendants have been remanded in custody since last November. He and his fellow defendants face a range of charges such as money laundering, illicit gambling activities, fraud, and involvement in a criminal organisation.
Four of Macau's six gaming operators (Wynn, SJM, Venetian, and MGM) are joint plaintiffs in the case, claiming damages.
Lou Ieng Ha is the presiding judge. Several defence lawyers complained for about an hour about the lack of space in the courtroom and other matters allegedly affecting their work. However, Lou insisted that the room is the largest one available for the Court of First Instance's criminal division. She urged the lawyers to cooperate with the court. A total of 16 seats have been set aside for members of the public.
Junket mogul Levo Chan Weng Lin, 49, who headed the now also defunct junket company Tak Chun, has been remanded in custody since January. He and his fellow defendants, who are slated to stand trial later this year, face similar charges.
Chau and Chan both face up to 20 years behind bars, legal sources have told The Macau Post Daily.
Suncity and Tak Chun were Macau's largest junket operators.
