A mainlander’s bank account has been frozen after an illegal currency exchange dealer transferred 927,000 yuan (1.04 million patacas) into his account, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Lei Chi Hou said at a regular press conference yesterday.
The two male mainland suspects are a 25-year-old construction worker surnamed Cao and a 30-year-old man surnamed Wu, who told the police that he’s jobless.
According to Lei, the mainland victim won HK$960,000 in a Cotai casino last Wednesday, after which he encountered a stranger outside the casino, who introduced him to currency exchangers Wu and Cao.
After the victim received 927,000 yuan in a bank transfer from Wu and Cao, he gave the cash to the duo, and then they departed.
The victim received a notification from the bank two days later, informing him that a total of 140,000 yuan in his account involved illicit funds and, therefore, it had been frozen by the bank, leading him to report the case to the police.
Wu and Cao were arrested when they attempted to leave Macau via the Barrier Gate checkpoint on Saturday. They refused to cooperate with police.
The duo have been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), facing charges of fraud and money laundering.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Lei Chi Hou looks on during a regular press conference yesterday. – Photo: William Chan
