Hong Kong: policeman sentenced for running illegal gambling den
Ng Hin-fung has been sentenced to a maximum of two years and six months in prison for running an illegal poker house and for breaching Covid-19 countermeasures.
Hong Kong.- Ng Hin-fung, a Hong Kong policeman, has been sentenced to up to two years and six months in prison after officers found he was involved in running an illegal gambling den.
According to South China Morning Post, Ng Hin-fung, together with the other two people, has also been sentenced for breach of restrictions regarding group gatherings.
Ng Hin-fung was arrested during a raid in April in which officers arrested 65 people aged between 18 and 54. The officer was suspended from duty. He has been released on bail for HK$10,000 (US$1,280) until the next hearing on October 11.
The court heard that the illegal casino operated in a 1,600 square foot industrial unit and offered poker games from March 27 to April 8. Some 39 were charged with illegal gambling, while an insurance agent faced charges of preventing police from entering the gambling establishment.
According to current gambling laws, operating a gambling establishment is punishable by two years in prison and a HK$5m fine.
824 people arrested in a series of raids
Authorities in Hong Kong reported that 824 people were arrested for illegal gambling during a series of police raids.
According to officers, those arrested were involved in illegal gambling operations related to the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament. Police carried out 137 raids, arresting 475 men and 349 women.
Officers seized US$463m. According to the South China Morning Post, it’s the largest amount of money seized from illegal gambling operations in almost 10 years. Police also seized several vehicles and computers.
Those arrested, aged 14 to 87 years, have been charged with different activities, from carrying out bookmaking operations to running illegal gambling dens or laundering money.
