A couple have been arrested for illegally operating a mahjong parlour in the mezzanine of a shop in Areia Preta district, while three local gamblers who were there when the police raided the place were taken in for questioning, Public Security Police (PSP) spokesman Cheong Heon Fan said at a regular press conference yesterday.
Cheong identified the couple, both surnamed Kuong, a 70-year-old jobless man and a 67-year-old female cleaner. And three female gamblers aged between 55 and 63.
According to Cheong, the police received a tip-off recently that an illegal mahjong parlour was suspected of operating in the mezzanine of a shop in Areia Preta. The police raided the parlour last Tuesday and intercepted one male gambler, Kuong, and three female gamblers on the spot. The police seized an electric mahjong table containing two sets of tiles, as well as 82 chips, 13,500 patacas and HK$10,000 of suspected gambling funds.
Under questioning, Kuong admitted to operating the illegal mahjong parlour. He told the police that he and his wife have rented the place for HK$8,500 per month to operate the parlour since August 2021. The police later summoned Kuong’s wife for questioning, and she also admitted to the crime, acknowledging that they charged each winner 10 patacas per game and that her husband occasionally joined the mahjong games as well.
The case has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) for further investigation, Cheong said, adding that the couple face a charge of running an illegal gambling business.
This undated photo provided by the Public Security Police (PSP) shows evidence including the suspect’s electric mahjong table, mahjong tiles, cash and chips.
