Secretary Wong says illegal immigrant running loose is ‘witness’

After a session at the Legislative Assembly (AL) today (Wednesday) Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak was surrounded by journalists looking for details with regards to reports that an illegal immigrant running loose from the hands of the Macau Customs.

Official notice only came two days after one of the six illegal immigrants gone loose. The Customs’ justification for the delayed release of information was that intelligence must be kept in strict confidentiality; early release of information may result in the criminal clan learning about the Customs’ tactics.

Secretary Wong’s response echoed this justification. Besides, he noted that the missing illegal immigrant was the witness in the case, who was to testify against the head of the criminal gang.

The “witness,” from Jiangxi province of China as stated in the identity document, has yet to be captured after missing for two days.

On May 6, the six illegal immigrants were transferred to the Public Prosecution Office (MP) for investigation, which ended at around 7pm the same evening. During the wait for transport, one of the six went loose. On-site Customs officers commenced an immediate search, while initiating the interdepartmental mechanism with the Public Security Police Force (PSP) and the Judiciary Police.

According to Wong, an investigation into the existence of any loophole, lack of staff, or procedural defect is underway. He has ordered the Customs to take the case seriously. Wong has especially pointed out that the MP should bear no responsibility in the happening.

As the witness had no prior criminal record in Macau, the usual practice stated in the law is that they should be expelled. The incident happened when the Customs were about to transfer the six people to the PSP before expelling.

814 illegal immigrants were caught last year, a steep fall from the peak of above 2,300 in 2016, Wong stated. Additionally, 222 were arrested in the first quarter of this year.

Staff reporter