Macau police have cracked down on three prostitution syndicates operating under the guise of sauna establishments, arresting a total of 26 people, including Leong Hing Hong, Deputy Director of the Macau Public Security Police Bureau.
According to comprehensive reports from Hong Kong’s Ming Pao and Sing Tao Daily, Macau police broke these cases last week, arresting 26 individuals from the mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau, including three active members of the security forces and two retired judiciary police officers. The case has been handed over to the Macau Public Prosecutions Office for investigation, and 12 of the suspects have been detained pending trial. Among these are three active security force personnel: Leong Hing Hong (60 years old), Deputy Director of the Macau Public Security Police Bureau; a deputy division head surnamed Chan (51 years old); and an officer surnamed Sou (54 years old).
The Public Prosecutions Office stated that preliminary investigations found three criminal groups in Macau that used spas and massages as a cover to recruit women from Asia and Eastern Europe for sex trade activities. Some suspects are suspected of having regular contact and suspected bribery transactions with current security force personnel and retired judiciary police officers, in exchange for information on police operations. This allowed the criminal groups to perpetuate organized prostitution activities.
After investigating the case, the Public Prosecutions Office, taking into account the seriousness of organized crime and concerns about suspects absconding, recommended to the criminal court to impose compulsory detention measures on 12 suspects, while 14 others are subject to other statutory compulsory measures.
According to a report by Macau Broadcasting and Television on Friday, police searched three sauna establishments, five offices, and 23 other locations, seizing 50 million Macau patacas (about 25.22 million ringgit) in illegal funds and assets and bringing in 381 people for questioning. Each of the three syndicates paid at least HK$470,000 (about RM240,000) a month in bribes to active security force personnel involved, and at least HK$300,000 (about RM156,000) monthly to retired judiciary police officers. Since operation began, the three locations have illegally profited between MOP 230 million and 320 million (about RM116 million to RM161 million).
The report quoted judiciary police as saying that the sauna establishments provided spa and massage services as a front, but in reality arranged for women to provide sexual services in the sauna rooms; each sex transaction cost about MOP 2,000 to 8,000 (about RM1,009 to RM4,036).