The graft trial involving the former president of the Macau Trade and Promotion Institute (IPIM) and over two dozen other defendants was adjourned today over prosecutorial issues.
The presiding judge adjourned the trial until next week after the Public Prosecution undertook to submit a list of documents backing up the charges that ex-IPIM president Jackson Chang is facing to his lawyer.
Chang's lawyer Rui Moura, a former journalist, told reporters outside the courthouse that the trial was "very complicated and extensive". According to Moura, the trial involves more than 8,000 pages and thousands of documents, while the indictment consists of 717 articles. Moura complained that the Public Prosecution had failed to clearly indicate which documents refer to which alleged offences.
The trial began yesterday, after weeks of delays over procedural issues. It was originally scheduled to continue on Monday and Tuesday but has now been adjourned to next Thursday.
Chang, also known as Cheong Chou Weng, is facing 18 charges for a range of alleged crimes, such as membership of a criminal organisation, abuse of power, corruption, breach of secrecy, money laundering, and false income declarations.
Chang has been remanded in custody since July 2019.
The trial comprises 26 defendants, many of who are being tried in absentia or default.
According to the Public Prosecution, the defendants were involved in a graft scheme that took advantage of the institute's power to grant residence permits to investors and professionals. Allegedly, the scheme generated some 10 million patacas in bribes and other kinds of kickbacks.
The defendants include Chang's wife and daughter.
