The Judiciary Police (PJ) arrested on Saturday five mainlanders for running an illegal gambling loan business in the city, with at least HK$500,000 involved, according to a regular press conference yesterday.
The quintet, aged between 29 and 53, surnamed Gao, Xiong, Liang, Xu and Zhang, gave the police various job titles, respectively, such as businessman, reporter and restaurant waiter, PJ spokesman Cheong Un Hong said. The five loan sharks were exposed by casino security guards after a dispute with a debtor over the amount of a bet while the latter was gambling at a casino in Cotai, Cheong added.
Cheong quoted PJ investigators as noting that the male victim was told by Gao and Xiong of their loan services last Friday night. After gambling away all his money, he borrowed HK$500,000 from the gang at noon on the following day, agreeing to repay 485,000 yuan (HK$516,485) and 25 percent “interest” on each of his winnings, with “interest” totalling HK$50,000.
According to Cheong, upon the victim’s request for assistance, the quintet were caught by the casino security guards and subsequently referred to the Judiciary Police for follow-up.
The five suspects, four males and a female, have been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), facing charges of usury.
