Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Ho Wai Lok revealed yesterday details about a brawl that erupted after an illegal currency exchange deal went awry on Saturday. Six men, including an illegal currency exchange dealer, have been arrested for attacking three men from the mainland.
The 32-year-old illegal currency exchange dealer surnamed Lin told the police that he works in gaming customer service.
The fight broke out at around 4 p.m. on Saturday at an entrance to Studio City in Cotai near Estrada Flor de Lótus and nine men from the mainland were taken to a police station for questioning.
Ho said during yesterday’s press conference that the police have meanwhile ascertained that a mainland man had struck a deal with Lin earlier that day to exchange HK$150,000 for 144,000 yuan. After the victim had handed over the Hong Kong dollars cash to Lin, he did not receive the promised bank transfer from Lin, who had meanwhile left the scene.
Subsequently, the victim contacted two of his friends to help locate Lin, and they managed to find him at the location where the altercation took place. Ho added that while Lin was waiting, he called five of his friends who then proceeded to attack the victim and his two friends.
Under questioning, Lin and his five friends refused to cooperate. The sextet have been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), facing bodily harm charges. Lin also faces charges of fraud and money laundering, according to Ho.
Judiciary Police (PJ) officers escort the hooded illegal currency exchange dealer surnamed Lin to a police vehicle outside the PJ headquarters in Zape yesterday.
– Photo: William Chan
