PJ cracks a knife robbery; casino proxy-betting case

[Photo: Ricaela Diputado]

The Judiciary Police (PJ) announced yesterday at a special press conference the resolution of an armed robbery in a hotel room and an illegal gambling operation in a casino.

The first case involved two female non-local victims and two male non-local suspects. On September 23, the Public Security Police Force (PSP) referred the case to the PJ after two women reported being robbed at knifepoint in a hotel room, resulting in a total loss of HKD21,000 in cash.

According to the investigation, the first victim intended to purchase property in Macau. Through a friend’s referral, she joined a WeChat group that offered currency exchange services.

She wanted to exchange RMB from her account for HKD cash and met the suspect through the chat group. The suspect and the woman agreed to meet at a restaurant in the hotel involved in the case in the early hours of September 23. The second victim accompanied her.

After the meeting, the suspect allegedly took both victims to a hotel room. Inside, he asked the first victim to transfer the money to him first, but she insisted he show his cash first. The man then went to the closet, took out a 20-centimeter-long knife, and threatened the first victim, demanding that she surrender the cash or he would kill both women.

The two handed over all their cash. After taking the money, the man fled the scene, and the two victims reported the incident to the police.

The first victim reported losing HKD15,000 in cash, and the second victim reported losing HKD6,000. Neither suffered any injuries.

Authorities discovered that before committing the crime, the same suspect had prepared an underwater propeller to smuggle himself out of Macau by water. That same night, authorities intercepted him at the Hengqin coast.

The investigation also revealed that a couple of hours before the robbery, the suspect had purchased the knife at a supermarket in the North District. He then went to a building to collect luggage and proceeded to a recreational park to meet the other suspect. The second suspect helped carry the bag containing the underwater propeller. Together, they took a shuttle bus to the hotel in Cotai, where the robbery was committed.

While the first suspect entered the hotel, the alleged accomplice loitered outside, serving as a lookout.

Records showed that the two were already involved in a robbery case on December 24, 2025, and had been subject to compulsory measures imposed by the judicial authorities, including a prohibition on leaving Macau and a requirement to report regularly.

On October 12, the PJ arrested the second suspect in the ZAPE District. He was found in possession of a mobile phone suspected of being the tool used to commit the crime. During the robbery, the two had been in contact via a messaging app. The PJ transferred the two to the Public Prosecutions Office on charges of robbery, assisting illegal entry and exit.

In a separate case, on the evening of October 12, the PJ received a tip about the illegal operation of online fortune games in a casino (so-called proxy betting) and intercepted the suspect inside the casino.

Investigations found that before entering the casino on the evening of October 12, the suspect had placed a mobile phone inside a modified black shirt, aiming the phone’s camera through a small hole to secretly record a live baccarat stream. He live-streamed the gambling to another suspect and received instructions via a Bluetooth earphone to place bets.

The investigation found that the suspect had committed this four times since late September. He was paid HKD500 per hour and had received approximately HKD2,000 from the illegal operation.

Police found him in possession of the modified shirt, two mobile phones, a Bluetooth receiver with a pair of earphones, and a slot machine cash voucher valued at HKD3,857.

The PJ transferred him to the Public Prosecutions Office on charges of illegally operating an online mutual gaming business and continues to pursue the other suspect, who is still at large.