Crime rate up as number of online extortion cases surges

Cheong Kuok Va (center)

The violent crime rate has risen 13.4 percent year-on-
year in the first half of 2014, with online extortion cases spreading, the Secretary for Security revealed yesterday in a press conference. Youth crime is also on the rise, with more youths caught being involved in criminal activities.
Cheong Kuok Va presented crime statistics for to the first half of this year, and provided a comparison with the same period in 2013. The secretary revealed that the crime rate increased by 6.1 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2014.
Violent crime rose from 352 cases in 2013 to 399 this year, up by 13.4 percent. Cases of extortion, which have been included in the violent crime category, have contributed greatly to increasing the rate.
Cases involving blackmail over online nudity, particularly in Skype calls, have emerged, as authorities recorded a total of 39 instances, as opposed to the zero registered cases last year. The victim is often lured to undress over a Skype call, while the other person online usually does the same. However, it becomes an issue when one of them threatens to release the footage if not paid a certain amount of money.
Authorities recorded a total of 60 extortion cases, including different types of blackmail, compared with only 21 registered cases in the first half of last year, representing an increase of 185 percent.
Cheong Kuok Va assured the public that competent authorities have been investigating extortion cases, particularly those involving online nude photos or footage. However, he recognized that it is sometimes difficult to reach concrete results; therefore, authorities are now focusing on prevention and sharing information with police forces outside Macau.
“Authorities have been aware of these crimes [extortion]; on one hand, we consider them violent crimes, but on the other hand, the situation isn’t too serious, because usually these are cross-
border crimes. We believe that, by working on preventative measures and exchanging information, we will be able to reduce the number of online extortion cases,” said Cheong Kuok Va.
Juvenile delinquency has also increased. The number of youths involved also rose, up by 29.4 percent. In the first half of last year, 34 young people were suspected of committing a crime, while in the same period of 2014, authorities recorded the involvement of ten more people.
In general, all types of crime recorded increased. Crimes against the person rose by 5.8 percent, as more cases of simple offenses to physical integrity emerged.
Property crime rose by 5.9 percent. Robbery and theft accounted for a large proportion of crimes listed in this category, but cases this year have decreased. Authorities recorded 142 fewer cases of theft and four fewer cases of robbery. Extortion and usury, which are also listed under property crime, rose by 185.7 and 44.7 percent respectively.
Crimes against life in society, such as using false IDs, rose by 2.9 percent, while crimes against the territory rose by 14.6 percent.
Cases of drug consumption decreased by 48.8 percent, as authorities recorded 82 fewer cases than in the first half of 2013. Drug trafficking rose by 0.9 percent; a total of 2,383 individuals were referred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) in the first half of this year, 28 more than last year.
The number of people from mainland China overstaying a visa increased by 18.1 percent, whereas the number of foreigners overstaying rose by 2.7 percent.

cheong kuok va willing to stay in office

Cheong Kuok Va says that he is available to continue working for the local government in the next Chief Executive’s term, either serving as a Secretary or holding another position. “What matters is working toward developing Macau,” he said. Cheong commented that, for now, his office is focused on the current term, making all necessary efforts towards serving Macau’s people. Nevertheless, he said that his remaining in office or holding another post obviously depends on the government.

crime in first half of
2014 (number of cases)

Simple offense to physical integrity  – 852
Theft – 1855
Robbery – 65
Extortion – 60
Usury – 110
Disobedience – 296
Drug trafficking – 109
Drug consumption – 86
Violent crimes –  399
Juvenile delinquency – 30
Threat – 124

Catarina Pinto