Victim is an elderly deaf-mute male: police
The Judiciary Police (PJ) arrested a local female on Wednesday for blackmailing an elderly deaf-mute man out of approximately 200,000 patacas, (PJ) spokesman Chong Kam Leong said during a special press conference yesterday.
Chong identified the suspect as a 54-year-old female, surnamed Lau, a former sex worker, who claimed to be jobless.
According to Chong, last Wednesday a staff member of a service centre for death-mute people accompanied the victim to a police station to report that the latter, who lives alone, had been extorted by a woman over a long period of time.
Chong noted that the victim receives a monthly government disability allowance, which is deposited directly into his bank account. Cheong also said that the victim has known the suspect for over a decade because of her work as a sex worker. Due to her work, Lau knew where the victim lives.
Although the victim and suspect had not been in contact with each other for some time, in 2024 Lau frequently visited the victim’s flat in the city centre, where she threatened to assault him if he didn’t give her money. The victim complied with her demands and withdrew over 5,000 to 10,000 patacas each time from his bank account, totalling around 200,000 patacas, Chong said.
The case was uncovered after a local social worker accompanied the victim to the bank and noticed unusual withdrawals from his account.
Lau was arrested by the police at the Barrier Gate checkpoint on Wednesday. She claimed that because of her gambling debts she threatened and blackmailed the victim.
According to Lau, the Judiciary Police have confirmed there is evidence about Lau’s blackmailing of the victim. She has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) for further questioning and the possible laying of charge.
Judiciary Police (PJ) officers escort the hooded blackmail suspect from the PJ headquarters in Zape to a vehicle yesterday. – Photo: Ida Cheong
