A secret arrangement
A Macau police officer allegedly accepted bribes from a VIP casino room owner in exchange for information on police activities.
received money and luxury hotel stays
The Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) revealed details of the case on Monday. The officer, a deputy sergeant in the Traffic Department of Macau’s Public Security Police Force, received money and luxury hotel stays as part of the arrangement.
The CCAC followed up on a tip-off, with the subsequent investigation revealing the deputy sergeant was “very close to some persons associated with VIP gaming rooms and visited the VIP gaming rooms many times in violation of law.”
The next step
Following its investigation, the CCAC seized a significant sum of cash, documents, and communication equipment from the deputy sergeant’s home. Authorities also seized computers, documents, and mobile phones from the VIP gaming room, of which authorities did not disclose the name. The case will now go to the Public Prosecutions Office.
The specific charges facing the deputy sergeant include passive bribery to perform illicit acts and committing abuse of power. The owner of the VIP room faces charges relating to active bribery. These types of offenses often carry prison sentences with a term of one to eight years.
Cracking down on junkets
Macau authorities are committed to significantly cracking down on illicit activities relating to VIP rooms and junket operations. In an attempt to counter money laundering, the Macau Gaming Inspection and Co-Ordination Bureau (DICJ) told casino operators that they could no longer offer credit to VIP players last year.
cutting ties with junket operators
Junkets bring high rollers from mainland China and elsewhere to play at VIP rooms in Macau casinos. Following the announcement of the ban on extending credit, numerous Macau casino operators have announced they are cutting ties with junket operators, including Wynn Resorts and Melco Resorts.
In November, Chinese authorities arrested Macau junket billionaire Alvin Chau for money laundering and cross-border gambling offenses. He is the first high-profile gaming industry figure authorities have targeted in such a case.