The Judiciary Police (PJ) busted a casino loan-sharking case on Sunday, arresting two mainlanders, PJ spokesman Chong Kam Leong said at a special press conference yesterday.
The two male suspects, surnamed Peng and Li, are in their forties and told the police that they’re jobless.
According to Chong, the male victim borrowed HK$100,000 from Peng and another accomplice for casino gambling on Saturday. He was required to pay 50 percent of his winnings under certain conditions as “interest.” They also signed a loan contract, with the victim giving his watch as collateral to Peng.
The victim then gambled with Peng while Li and the other accomplice acted as lookouts. Eventually, he lost all the money and was confined by the trio against his will in a flat on Rua do Almirante Sérgio (河邊新街). While in captivity, he managed to alert the authorities about his situation, while also asking the suspects for an additional HK$100,000 loan for gambling, a request which the gang accepted.
Peng and Li escorted the victim back to the casino, where he lost all the money once again. Following this, they returned with him to the flat. Police officers intervened on Sunday, rescuing the victim and apprehending Peng and Li at the location. In total, the victim was confined for approximately 25 hours.
Peng and Li were transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) yesterday, each facing charges of false imprisonment and usury. Cheong noted that the police were still investigating the whereabouts of the duo’s other accomplice.
Judiciary Police (PJ) officers escort the two hooded usury suspects to a PJ vehicle outside the PJ headquarters in Zape yesterday. – Photo: William Chan
