In an ongoing investigation into a “premeditated cross-border theft gang” involving 4.5 million yuan (4.95 million patacas), the mainland’s Public Security Bureau (PSB) apprehended the gang’s alleged mastermind and handed him over to the Judiciary Police (PJ) yesterday, PJ spokesman Ho Chan Lam said during a special press briefing.
The 32-year-old local suspect surnamed Lam told the police he’s jobless. Lam was handed over by the Zhuhai Public Security Bureau (PSB) to the Judiciary Police yesterday afternoon in the area between Zhuhai’s Gong Bei and Macau’s Barrier Gate checkpoints.
According to Ho, on August 16, when the gang’s male victim, carrying a backpack and suitcase containing 4.5 million yuan in cash, was preparing to leave Macau from the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, Lam and his accomplices stole the suitcase and backpack, which the victim had left unattended in the waiting hall while going to the toilet. The gang members fled to the mainland immediately after the theft.
Ho added that after stealing the money, Lam handed a portion of it to his elder brother and mother. Their intention was to transfer the funds through underground money changers. The local police apprehended a total of five suspects, on August 17 and 18, and managed to recover 1.3 million yuan of the stolen money.
Recently, mainland police intercepted Lam and two mainland Chinese male suspects in Hubei and Zhaoqing, Guangdong province, respectively. Lam was handed over to the Judiciary Police for further investigation yesterday. Ho noted that the remaining two fugitives would be handed over to the Judiciary Police soon, and the police investigation into the case was still ongoing.
PJ officers escort the local suspect back to Macau in an area between Zhuhai’s Gong Bei and Macau’s Barrier Gate checkpoints yesterday. – Photo: William Chan
