The Judiciary Police (PJ) busted a casino loan-sharking gang last week, arresting three mainlanders, PJ spokesman Cheong Kim Fong said at a special press conference yesterday.
The three suspects, aged between 23 and 36, told the police that they’re a salesman, a construction worker and a chef respectively.
According to Cheong, the police received a report on Saturday from a man saying that his friend had borrowed money from a loan shark for gambling and was subsequently confined by them against his will. The police soon located the victim in a hotel guestroom in Zape and rescued him on the same day. The three suspects were also arrested at the scene.
The victim told the police that he borrowed HK$150,000 from the trio for gambling in Zape on Sunday. He was required to pay an upfront “handling fee” of HK$10,000 and 30 percent of his winnings under certain conditions as “interest.” They also signed a loan contract. Later that day, he ended up gambling away all the money and was subsequently confined in the guestroom for eight hours, during which he contacted his friend for assistance.
The trio were transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) yesterday, facing charges of false imprisonment and usury, Cheong noted.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Cheong Kim Fong looks on during yesterday’s special press conference.
– Photo: William Chan
