Four defendants had their sentences reduced from 15 to 12-and-a-half years, according to last week’s ruling. They were: Philip Wong; Cheong Chi Kin, who had worked as a “junket agent” for Suncity Group, and that admitted during the trial to conducting multiplier bet business in VIP rooms run by the junket group; Tim Chau Chun Hee, who during the trial admitted that he had invested in entities dedicated to multiplier bet business; and Ali Celestino, described in court as a former Suncity Group executive helping to run the group’s information technology.
Alvin Chau's ruling will hit Macau highrollers
Macau’s Court of Second Instance has confirmed the 18-year sentence for Alvin Chau Cheok Wa, former boss of now-defunct Macau casino junket Suncity Group Ltd. Some of the other defendants had their sentences reduced, according to a ruling published on Friday.
Mr Chau (pictured in a file photo) and some of the other defendants were acquitted of fraud charges, and will not have to pay – as a way of compensation – HKD8.67 billion (US$1.08 billion) to the Macau government and a number of the city’s casino operators, according to the latest ruling.
Mr Chau and Philip Wong Pak Ling, the latter identified as the former head of Suncity Group’s finance department, were however convicted on aggravated money laundering charges. The pair and seven other defendants were ordered to pay nearly HKD25.51 billion to the Macau government as a way of compensation for gains from illicit gambling operations and from profits made via money laundering activities, stated the appeal court.
