Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On has decided to suspend Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) President Raymond Tam Vai Man and Vice President Lei Wai Nong from their posts for 90 days with the suspension starting today, according to Alexis Tam Chon Weng, the government’s chief spokesperson who also heads Chui’s office.
The 90-day period is officially known as “preventive suspension”.
Alexis Tam also said Chui made the decision after the initial results of an administrative enquiry to probe Raymond Tam and Lei earlier this month, claiming that they had breached certain administrative regulations.
The enquiry started on June 5 following an announcement by the Public Prosecution Office (MP) that four suspects from the bureau including Raymond Tam and Lei allegedly breached certain administrative regulations, thereby allegedly committing the crime of misfeasance, according to Article 333 of the Macau Penal Code.
Alexis Tam made the announcement during a press conference at Government House.
Alexis Tam did not elaborate on what rules Raymond Tam and Lei allegedly breached.
Alexis Tam also said that Chui had appointed Alex Vong Iao Iek, president of the government’s Macau Sports Development Board (IDM), as IACM acting president during the 90 days while the current vice-president of the Macau Sports Development Board,Jose Fonseca Tavares, had been appointed as IDM acting president for the same period.
Vong and Tavares attended Monday’s press conference.
The Public Prosecution Office said earlier this month that four IACM staff members –Raymond Tam, Lei, Licensing and Environmental Hygiene Department Chief Fong Wai Seng and civil servant Sio Kuok Kun – had been arraigned by the Examining Magistracy for allegedly delaying the release of documents to the Public Prosecution Office (MP) in 2010 about the granting of 10 burial plots, because of which they would have to stand trial in the Court of First Instance (TJB).
Alexis Tam said that the decision to suspend the two senior officials was made while taking into consideration the protection of the public interest and, at the same time, ensuring that the principle of presumption of innocence would not be affected.
He also said the decision ensured that the bureau’s operations would not be affected by the two suspensions.(macaunews)
