An Algerian man overstaying his visa in Macau has been apprehended for stealing HK$166,000 in cash and casino chips, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Chong Kam Leong said in a regular press conference yesterday.
The 65-year-old suspect surnamed Badache told the police that he’s jobless. He entered Macau on January 9 and his visa expired on January 16.
According to Chong, a man from the mainland reported to the police that when he was gambling in a casino in Cotai on Saturday, his holdall, containing HK$110,000 in casino chips, was stolen. PJ officers then scrutinised CCTV footage and saw Badache steal the holdall. He was arrested later that day in another casino in Cotai. Police officers found him possession of the holdall and retrieved all the chips.
Chong said that Badache was also involved in two other theft cases in which he had stolen HK$15,000 in chips and HK$41,000 in cash in casinos.
Under questioning, Badache admitted to committing the crime and claimed that he had already spent all the ill-gotten money from the previous two cases on daily expenses.
Badache was transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) on Monday, facing theft charges, according to Chong.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Chong Kam Leong looks on during yesterday’s regular press conference.
– Photo: William Chan
