PJ records increase in gaming-related crime

The PJ director Chau Wai Kuong (left) guides visitors – including the Secretary Wong Sio Chak – through a photo exhibition depicting the police activities

There has been an increase in gaming-related crimes, namely illegal detention and  loan-sharking in casinos, revealed Chau Wai Kuong, director of the Judiciary Police (PJ), yesterday morning at the police headquarters during an event to mark the 55th anniversary of the institution.
Describing domestic security as stable, Chau said that “criminality has been reduced, but the gaming-related crimes, cybercrimes and burglary cases have continued to increase.”
The PJ head pointed out that an increase has also been recorded in cases of youth delinquency. He likewise noted that foreign criminals in the region have surged by 76 percent, from 62 to 109 in the first five months of the year, in comparison to the number recorded during the equivalent period last year. Yet the total number of crimes recorded in that period is similar year-on-year with 1,390 perpetrators prosecuted.
PJ recorded remarkable declines in the number of cases recorded in many other categories, with drug trafficking cases falling by 38 percent, organized crime dropping by 30 percent, incidents of theft reduced by 18 percent and robbery cases down by 28 percent.
Chau stressed that local citizens’ vigilance against phone and Internet scams has remained low.
In a bid to elevate personnel morale and recognize outstanding PJ officers, officials from local and mainland security forces conferred certificates on 14 PJ officers from different departments during the function. They subsequently proceeded to visit a temporary gallery showcasing prize-winning pictures by local journalists, which captured “positive images” of the PJ authorities through members of the PJ’s own eyes.
According to data provided by the authorities, the number of solved cases reached 961, 4.8 percent higher than last year’s figure. The PJ authorities also claimed that their scientific approaches have come a long way in dealing with crimes assisted by technology.
In recent years, society has been calling for tighter penalties for those caught driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, an opinion with which the former prosecutor general of the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) Ho Chio Meng also expressed his agreement last year.
Responding to the long-
debated topic that was broached at the end of the visit, incumbent MP head Ip Son Sang echoed his predecessor’s remarks, but added that a possible revision of the related regulation would only come after a social consensus has been met.
“In judiciary practice, we believe driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol should be severely punished in our stance, as it might bring serious consequences to victims, their families and to society,” agreed Ip. However, he conceded that such a revision to the law required agreement from different sides, especially the criminal investigation departments. Staff reporter

no politics in sin fong case, ip says

The public has accused the MP of pressing politically-motivated charges against seven arrested Sin Fong Garden residents, as they were only notified of the prosecution roughly one year after their alleged offences. The MP head, Ip Son Sang, brushed off the allegations, stating that their limited workforce was the reason for their delayed decision in what he described as a “regretful case”. “As Macau is a law-governed society, on one hand we very much understand the occupants’ concerns. However on that day they were indeed occupying the public road, so I believe the office just fulfilled its duties to make the indictments,” he said, also stressing that the freedom to express appeals should not compromise the rule of law.