Former Macau Legislator Jailed Following Case Involving Confidential Casino Concession
He was jailed for 12 years and six months
Au Kam San, a former Macau legislator, has been sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison in the territory’s first publicly known prosecution under its national security law.
According to Casino.org, the 69-year-old was convicted of subversion, offences involving links with organisations outside Macao and breach of secrecy. The case also concerned confidential information about casino concession renewals.
The court said Au disclosed material in 2021 after attending a closed legislative committee meeting on the subject, but did not identify its recipient or specify what was shared.
He received a nine-month sentence for the secrecy offence.
A Landmark Security Case
The court found that Au had worked with overseas organisations to collect and circulate information it described as false or distorted, with the aim of stirring hostility towards Beijing and influencing Macao’s 2024 chief executive election.
He was acquitted of two further subversion charges.
Au’s wife, Virginia Cheang, called the case “a political trial and persecution”, as reported by Casino.org.
Enforcement Continues
Enforcement has continued across Macau. In September, Macau’s Judiciary Police detained two mainland Chinese men over allegations that they helped an off-site bettor place proxy wagers from a Cotai casino by livestreaming an electronic baccarat game
Police said they seized cash, vouchers, phones and a casino membership card, and believe the main suspect had been carrying out similar activity since June.
