A woman from the mainland has been arrested for stealing casino chips worth HK$200,000 and then reselling them, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Ho Chan Nam said in a press conference yesterday.
The 37-year-old suspect surnamed Leng told the police that she’s a tea sommelier.
According to Ho, Leng encountered the male victim from the mainland at a Zape casino on Thursday and they began gambling together. On Saturday, after their gambling session, Leng accompanied the victim to his room. While the victim was having a shower, Leng stole two HK$100,000 chips from the victim’s trouser pocket and left the room. The victim promptly reported the case to the police.
Ho noted that the stolen casino chips were traced in the casino’s system. On Sunday, when a man attempted to use the chips at a Cotai casino, the casino staff informed the police and intercepted the man who was gambling with one of the stolen chips.
The man told the police that he had purchased the two casino chips earlier that day from Leng for 188,000 yuan (about 208,173 patacas). Later that day, while at the casino, the man recognised Leng and immediately alerted the police, who then arrested Leng on the spot.
Under questioning, Leng admitted to the crime and claimed that the money obtained from the second victim had been used to repay debts and for gambling.
Leng has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), facing fraud and theft charges.
This undated photo provided by the Judiciary Police (PJ) yesterday shows the stolen casino chip.
