Police arrest fugitive security manager linked to casino extortion ring

Local police have arrested a security manager who allegedly led a criminal group involving security personnel from a leisure enterprise and was suspected of extortion, coercion and protecting offenders.

The Judiciary Police (PJ) said Thursday that mainland authorities arrested the 60-year-old-plus Macau man, surnamed Wong, in Zhongshan and handed him over to Macau police at about 5 p.m. The man had fled Macau before a July 28 operation that resulted in the arrest of nine security department employees and five intermediaries. All 14 suspects were transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office for further investigation.

Wong, who had worked as a security manager for more than 10 years, was allegedly one of the group’s leaders. Police said he directed security personnel to pressure individuals involved in illegal activities inside casinos to pay “protection fees” and “case settlement fees.”

While hiding in mainland China, Wong allegedly instructed his wife to help conceal HKD201,000 in illicit proceeds stored at their home.

The PJ said Wong was transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office on suspicion of organized crime, extortion, coercion and harboring offenders.

His wife was also referred to prosecutors on Aug. 3 on suspicion of handling criminal proceeds.

The police said the arrest was coordinated through the Macau branch of the National Central Bureau of INTERPOL China and mainland police under an established law enforcement liaison mechanism.

The PJ said they will continue to pursue suspects who flee Macau to evade criminal responsibility, using law enforcement cooperation mechanisms to combat crime and protect public safety.