Macau: woman arrested for US$12m junket theft

Police in Macau have arrested a woman that worked at a VIP casino venue for the heft of nearly MOP95.5m (US$11.9m) in deposits from over 70 clients.

Macau.- Police in Macau have arrested an employee of a VIP casino venue on suspicion of stealing nearly MOP95.5m (US$11.9m) from more than 70 customers.

According to officers, the woman promised to give customers a 1.1 per cent daily interest rate on the funds. However, two of her victims complained that they were unable to withdraw their deposits worth MOP9m. The woman claims that a managing partner in the VIP room instructed her to transfer the deposits to another account. 

Her case has been sent to the city’s public prosecution office for follow-up. Authorities are still seeking to determine the whereabouts of other suspects in the case.

Under the revision of the city’s gaming law, Macau wants to increase the oversight of gaming concessionaires and junket operations. Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau beings a public consultation on the revision of the city’s gaming law, which will run until October 29.

Lei Wai Nong, Macau’s Secretary for Economy and Finance, said: “We don’t want to encourage any more sub-concession arrangements, because we want to ensure stability in our gaming concession system…they… should not expand endlessly.”

He also revealed the government might invite the public to give its view on the maximum number of gaming concessions that ought to be permitted in the city.

Authorities have also proposed electing “delegates” to Macau’s gaming concessions, so it can have a “greater checking” limit on the activity of the gaming firms. A delegate system is already used to monitor other forms of public concession.