Briefs | A lesser free economy – Heritage Foundation

Macau stands 9th place in the ranking of the freest economies in the Asia-Pacific, falling two places compared to 2014, according to the Heritage Foundation 2015 report, released yesterday by the Monetary Authority.  Among 42 economies in the region, the MSAR is behind Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia.  Worldwide, Macau ranks 34 in a total of 178 economies, also recording a decline comparing to 2014, when it ranked in 29th. The city received 70.3 points and the mark of “relatively free,” the same as in the past seven years.

Taiwanese man allegedly rapes mainland tourist

The Judiciary Police (PJ) has detained a Taiwanese man who allegedly impersonated a police officer before robbing and raping a mainland woman. A PJ spokesperson said that the 25-year-old suspect told a mainland woman in a casino in Taipa that he was a police officer. He then demanded the victim bring him back to her hotel room, claiming that he suspected her of involvement in prostitution and drug-related crime. The man took the victim’s mobile phone and chips worth HKD19,000 from her, proceeding to lose them on the gaming tables. He then returned to the victim’s room, threatening to beat and arrest her if she refused to have sex with him. The woman later managed to contact a friend, who notified the police. The authorities also found out that he was involved in a fraud case in the city last year.

Fatal car accident involving alleged DUI driver

A man in his 60s was killed after being hit by a car near the Border Gate underground tunnel on the Avenida Norte do Hipodromo at around 6.30 a.m. yesterday. Police information suggests that the man was crossing the road without using appropriate pedestrian facilities when a vehicle hit him. He was later pronounced dead in hospital. The driver allegedly had a blood alcohol content of 1.17 grams, which indicates he may have been drink driving. The police said that there are no road-crossing facilities within 50 meters of the scene, and are calling for eyewitnesses to come forward.