Irate workers protest outside employer’s firm

Eight irate workmen led by representatives of the Macau Workers Self-Help Association protested outside architectural firm Wit Engineering Company limited yesterday morning. They carried a coffin, and condemned the company for owing them salaries totaling MOP400,000. Cheong Weng Fat, the association’s secretary, said that no reply from the firm has been received so far regarding their complaints, and he confirmed that the association would take further action at the Labor Affairs Bureau. Lee Kim Yun, the group’s vice head who is dealing with three cases over related disputes, said that the continued gaming slump would lead to more unreasonable dismissals and hoped that the bureau might take those cases more seriously.

Couto leads GT championship in Japan

Local driver André Couto will compete this weekend at the Fuji Circuit, Japan, where he will try to retain his lead at the Japanese GT300 Championship. The former Macau Grand Prix winner is leading the classification after three races, but is only one point ahead of the team that consists of drivers Kazuki Hoshino and Mitsunori Takaboshi. Couto drives a Nissan for team Gainer Tanax. Although the GT300 Championship is contested by teams of two drivers, Couto stands alone at the top post, since his initial teammate Katsumasa Chiyo ceded his place to Ryuichiro Tomita in the last race. Couto hopes to perform well on the 300-kilometer-long Sunday race. “Our car will be overweight [with a 78-kilogram ballast] and we will try to avoid incidents, score points and stay ahead of the direct competitors,” Couto said. The Japanese GT300 Championship consists of eight races and ends on Nov. 15 in the Motegi Circuit.

Troublemaker at hospital under the effect of drugs

A large fork-wielding Filipino man who caused a commotion yesterday afternoon at the public hospital was undergoing psychiatric evaluation at the time after his urine sample tested positive for ice (methamphetamine). A powder-smeared cigarette case, together with two small packets of the recreational drug weighing 0.52 grams, along with other tools, were found on the 39-year-old’s body after he was taken to the police station. Police authorities deployed shield-armed officers to the hospital after its security guard discovered that the man was threatening hospital staff with a “sharp object.”