A taxi driver in his sixties has been arrested for short-changing a male passenger from the mainland out of HK$927, Public Security Police (PSP) spokeswoman Lai In Hong said yesterday at a regular press conference.
According to Lai, the victim took a taxi on Rua de Pequim in Zape to Cotai. When he arrived, the fare was 73 patacas, and he handed over HK$1,000 to the male cabbie, surnamed Lao. However, Lao only gave him back 27 patacas as change. The victim didn’t realise that he had the incorrect amount of change at the time.
Later, the victim reported the case to the police, saying that he had been shortchanged by Lao. The police then contacted the taxi driver in question, who insisted that he had only received HK$100 from the victim. Upon reviewing the CCTV footage inside the taxi, the police confirmed that Lao had indeed received a HK$1,000 note from his passenger. Subsequently, Lao was summoned to a police station for questioning on January 29.
Under questioning, Lao finally admitted to short-changing the passenger and expressed willingness to repay the amount.
Lao has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), facing a fraud charge, according to Lai.
Public Security Police (PSP) spokeswoman Lai In Hong looks on during yesterday’s regular press conference. – Photo: William Chan
