MP waiting for more staff as cases reach record high

Chief Executive Chui Sai On attends the swearing-in ceremony of three new Assistant Public Prosecutors-General, Choi Keng Fai (1st L), Vítor Manuel Carvalho Coelho (2nd L) and Cheng Lap Fok (1st R)

The Public Prosecutions Office (MP) experienced a 11 percent increase in the number of cases in the first eleven months of last year, a record high since the establishment of the Macau SAR.
Prosecutor general Ho Chio Meng told reporters yesterday that the workload growth was due to the increasing number of tourists. However, he is not concerned about the crime rate rise.
“I’m not very worried about the situation. But there is a need to adjust policies to fight crime in line with the changes of the region,” he stressed.
According to MP figures, the number of criminal cases between January and November was 10,952, an increase of 1,118 cases over the same period of 2010.
“It is expected that there will be more than 1,000 criminal cases initiated in December, which will mean a further increase in the total number registered for the year, reaching a new record for the 11 years since the establishment of the MSAR,” the MP said in a statement.
Most cases were theft, property damage, abuse of sexual freedom, abuse of copyright, abuse of privacy and cybercrimes. There were 4,510 theft and robbery cases, up by 28 percent over 2010.
An average of 400 cases were reported every month between January and July, with 606 in November.
Cybercrimes doubled compared to the previous year, accounting for 82 cases. “The population should be more aware with regard to network security,” the MP said.
Money laundering cases grew in the past three years, but the office did not share detailed data. The MP urged the government to strengthen supervision over the activities of casinos, banks and other non-banking activities, as well as to improve investigation techniques and law enforcement.
In November, among the 368 accused people, 170 were local, 144 were mainlanders and 54 were residents from Hong Kong, Taiwan and foreign countries.
The prosecutors said arrests and other restrictions imposed upon non-residents bring some problems of “pressure on the government and a burden and instability to the society”.
The number of cases referred to the Lower Court involving youngsters under 16 years old in the past eleven months increased 20 percent over 2010.

Work efficiency

Although he emphasised that the MP work has been efficient, Ho Chio Meng said that the office will simplify its procedures and shorten its deadlines in order to increase efficiency.
Ho said that the MP would shorten deadlines in particular for submission of documents.
The magistrate was speaking on the sidelines of yesterday’s swearing-in ceremony of three new deputy prosecutors. Magistrates Choi Keng Fai and Cheng Lap Fok were promoted to assistant prosecutors.
Choi holds a doctorate degree in Law from the Renmi University, China. In July 1999, after completing the course and internship for magistrates, he was appointed prosecutor of the MP.
Cheng Lap Fok holds a master degree in Law from the Beijing University and was also appointed prosecutor in July 1999.
The two appointments aim “to satisfy the needs of the MP” and fill two vacancies. One deputy prosecutor retired and returned to Portugal and Song Man Lei was promoted to judge of the Final Appeal Court.
In addition, magistrate Victor Manuel Carvalho Coelho was also sworn-in, as he was recently appointed assistant prosecutor by the Chief Executive. Coelho is also prosecutor-general of the Public Prosecutions Office of the Portuguese Republic.
Ho added that more magistrates will be recruited in the future, but failed to share a timetable. He said it depends on the results of the courses organised by the legal and judicial training centre.