Three arrested over alleged HKD140,000 hotel-room robbery

Three mainland Chinese men have been arrested for allegedly robbing a currency exchanger of HKD140,000 in a hotel room in NAPE, the Judiciary Police (PJ) said in a press conference Wednesday.

Police received a report after the alleged victim, a mainland Chinese man, went to the hotel at about 7 p.m. Monday to exchange currency. Police said five men were waiting in the room when he arrived.

During discussions over the exchange, several men allegedly tackled the victim and pinned him to the floor before taking HKD140,000 from his waist bag.

The suspects then fled. Two of them allegedly left Macau through the Hengqin Port about an hour after the incident, while two others became involved in a struggle with the victim, who suffered an injury to his right forearm. Hotel staff alerted police.

The PJ later identified the suspects and arrested a 41-year-old unemployed man, a 32-year-old man who runs a timber business, and a 31-year-old delivery worker. The three men have been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) for further investigation on suspicion of robbery.

Police said at least two other suspects remain at large and the stolen money has not been recovered.

The alleged victim is also suspected of engaging in illegal currency-exchange activities in Macau. Police said a separate case would be opened to investigate that activity.

Two arrested over alleged illegal currency exchange

The PJ arrested two mainland Chinese nationals for allegedly engaging in illegal currency exchange at casinos in the central and NAPE districts, seizing HKD132,630 in cash and casino chips.

The suspects, a 47-year-old woman and a 58-year-old man, allegedly began the activity last month and earned about HKD5,000 and RMB1,000, respectively.

Police said the woman allegedly exchanged RMB900 for HKD 1,000 in casino chips on Sept. 7, while the man allegedly exchanged RMB1,760 for HKD2,000 in chips the following day.

Both cases were transferred to the MP for further investigation.