The conclusion of a criminal case typically arrives with the sentencing of the individual or organization in question. However, factoring in the various court tiers, it’s possible to file an appeal, delaying the inevitable or in some instances, prompting a complete reversal of the legal dispute’s outcome. To illustrate, earlier this year in January, the Macau Court of First Instance issued an 18-year prison sentence to Alvin Chau, the erstwhile CEO and founder of Suncity Group.
In a recent development, a disclosure by IAG, accredited to sources familiar with the case, disclosed that the Macau Prosecutor’s Office lodged an appeal with the Court of Final Appeal, with a request for resumption of fraud allegations against Chau. Though Chau received a prison sentence, he disputed the fraud charges lodged against him and the Suncity Group.
The Court of First Instance decreed his prison sentence and directed a nearly $270 million compensation to be paid to gaming concessionaires in the nation. In contrast, the Macau Court of Second Instance dismissed the fraud-related charges, reinforcing Chau’s prison sentence. While the cumulative compensation that the government in Macau expected from him and the Suncity Group rose to $1.1 billion, they were absolved from the duty of payment to the concessionaires.
However, as per the recent report, it appears the Public Prosecutor’s Office is attempting to reestablish the fraud charges as directed by the Court of First Instance. This appeal aims for the Court of Final Appeal to confirm the initial charges requiring Suncity and Chau to pay approximately $265 million to five gaming concessionaires in Macau.
Earlier This Month Saw the Abandonment of Compensations by Gambling Concessionaires
Without a doubt, the recent decision of the Macau Prosecutor’s Office extends the legal dispute for Suncity Group. The conviction of Alvin Chau followed his arrest in November 2021, when he was taken into custody on charges associated with unlawful gambling, fraud, money laundering, and links to criminal entities.
In spite of the Macau Prosecutor’s Office’s intentions, earlier this month, the five gambling operators who sought compensation from Chau and Suncity confirmed their decision to drop their respective claims. Media outlets in the region reported that the gaming corporations revoked their demands for over $265 million in compensation from the junket operator.
Among the operators seeking compensation were the Venetian Macau, SJM Resorts, MGM China, Galaxy, and Wynn Resorts. The implications of the latest decision of the Prosecutor’s Office on these operators’ choice, and whether they might reconsider and demand for compensation again, remain uncertain.
