Only ex-boss Levo Chan Weng Lin appears in court, accused of range of crimes from illegal gambling to usury; eight other defendants choose not to attend.
illegal gambling
Chan charged with illegal gambling, criminal association and money laundering; gaming concessionaires including MGM, Wynn and Venetian Macau claim compensation for losses caused by junket.
Associate Billy Choi released but may not leave Macao; police point to strong evidence linking pair to organised crime, illegal gambling and money laundering.
Prosecutors allege Chau ran vast syndicate in China that encouraged illegal gambling activities; urge him to surrender for ‘lenient punishment’.
Analysts reckon Macao may benefit from the crackdown.
Two locals and two mainlanders were arrested on Thursday for setting up Macao’s first gambling website data centre.
