Suspect of Cotai murder apprehended in Hunan

The male suspect in a murder case that took place in a resort in Cotai on May 7 was apprehended yesterday by the mainland police in the Hunan Province of China.

According to earlier disclosure by the local Judiciary Police (PJ), two women were found to have been strangled to death in a room of MGM Cotai 

The PJ held a press conference to announce the arrest yesterday afternoon.

On the question whether the male suspect, aged 34 years, will be expedited for trial in Macau, a PJ spokesperson said that negotiations with the mainland police will determine the outcome.

As per current investigations, the PJ discovered that the suspect arrived in Macau on April 29 and stayed in several hotels. These hotel rooms were rented under his name except the last room, where the crime took place.

The room that formed the crime scene was rented by somebody else, with the booking either being sold or lent to the suspect.

The local police disclosed that the suspect asked the first victim to come to his room at about 9 p.m. on May 5, claiming he would get his money exchanged to another currency.

At 1 a.m. the next morning, he started gambling with HKD600,000, which authorities believe he had been robbed from the victim. He lost all the money to the casino.

Three hours later, he brought another woman, the second victim, into the room. It was believed that he procured sexual services from the woman.

At about 7 a.m., he left Macau through the Border Gate.

The PJ explained the difficulty of the investigations, saying that the suspect had worn wigs and hats, cleaned the crime scene, and taken property and identification from the victims.

Meanwhile, the Hunan Police announced that it mobilized more than 700 officers to arrest the suspect in a mountainous area in the province. AL