The Judiciary Police (PJ) arrested a woman from Philippines for theft and fraud last Friday, PJ spokesman Chao Teng Hin said during a regular press conference yesterday.
Chao identified the suspect as a 31-year-old female surnamed Manansala who told police that she used to work as a domestic helper but now she is jobless.
According to Chao, the middle-aged male victim had employed Manansala as a live-in domestic helper since July 2025. In April this year, Chao said, the victim noticed that cash and other valuables in his home had gone missing.
On May 24, the victim confronted Manansala face to face, at which point the suspect admitted to the theft and the victim dismissed her right away and ejected her from his flat, according to Chao.
However, upon checking later, the victim discovered that items from the safe in the master bedroom had also been stolen.
The following day, when the suspect returned to collect her belongings, the victim questioned her again, Chao said, adding that Manansala admitted that she had used the key kept on top of the safe to open it and steal the contents while no-body else was at home.
Manansala immediately returned 3,000 patacas in cash as “compensation” and promised to repay the remaining amount, according to Chao.
The following day, however, Manansala vanished, and the victim reported the case to the police on May 27, claiming the total loss amounted to 26,500 patacas, comprising both cash and jewellery.
PJ officers confirmed that Manansala had left Macau on May 25, Chao said, adding that last Friday, Manansala was arrested by PJ officers when she re-entered Macau through the airport.
Under questioning, Chao said that Manansala admitted to having sent the stolen money back to her hometown and used it for everyday expenses here.
PJ officers later recovered three items of jewellery, valued at 14,600 patacas, from a pawnshop, according to Chao.
Manansala has meanwhile been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), facing charges of fraud and theft.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Chao Teng Hin looks on during a regular press briefing held at the PJ headquarters in Zape yesterday. – Photo: Armindo Neves
