Judiciary Police (PJ) Information Technology Crimes Division Head Chan Kin Hong urged citizens yesterday to immediately notify authorities if they suspect that their phones have been tapped or their conversations with others are being illegally monitored.
According to The Macau Post Daily, Chan made the appeal on the sidelines of the weekly open-air Macau Forum debate programme hosted by government broadcaster TDM when answering reporters’ enquiries regarding allegations that some lawmakers, journalists and social activists had had their phones tapped by the police.
Chan said it was illegal to tap anyone’s phone lines while police investigators would only eavesdrop on telephone conversations if they have been granted a court order.
“… Depending on the severity of the crime, we can request a court order to tap the phones of suspects who have committed an offence punishable by a minimum three-year prison sentence,” said Chan.
“The judge will approve our request if they believe it is necessary … Moreover, we have to submit our findings to the judge every 30 days to see whether or not there is a need to continue with the phone tap.”
Asked by reporters as to whether the local authorities have bypassed the courts and tapped some residents’ phones, Chan insisted that it was “absolutely impossible” for police to do such things without the consent of a judge.
Chan is one of the spokesmen for the Judiciary Police.(macaunews)
