The transportation minister in Macau, China’s booming casino capital, has
been arrested for allegedly accepting bribes, the government said Thursday.
The suspect, Ao Man-long, is the most senior leader to be detained in the
former Portuguese enclave since it returned to Chinese rule in 1999. His
arrest comes as the territory off China’s southern coast tries to shed its
reputation of being a shady gambling destination and evolve into an
international tourist spot. The rare detention was announced by Macau’s
leader, Edmund Ho, who told reporters there was “irrefutable evidence” that
Ao was involved in corruption. “Because the investigation is under way, I
cannot disclose any details. Obviously, Secretary Ao has abused his power
for personal gains,” Ho said, without elaborating.
Ao, who has held his position for seven years, was arrested on Wednesday
night for allegedly taking bribes and engaging in illegal financial
activities, a government statement said, without providing further details.
Ho said other people were involved but no other civil servants have been
implicated. Hong Kong’s government broadcaster, RTHK, quoted Macau’s
anti-graft agency as saying that more arrests were made in Hong Kong and
that bank accounts in Hong Kong were being investigated. Hong Kong’s
Independent Commission Against Corruption confirmed it had assisted the
investigation but declined to provide details. Macau includes a peninsula
and two small islands about 60 kilometers (37 miles) west of Hong Kong. It
is the only place in China where casino gambling is legal. Before its return
to China, the tiny territory _ less than one-sixth the size of Washington,
D.C. _ was plagued by violent turf battles between triad gangs. Since the
handover, the once-frequent shootouts have become rare. U.S. investigators
have said that Macau has been used as a base by North Koreans laundering
money in the territory’s banks. Washington has imposed sanctions on a Macau
bank that served North Korean companies.