MACAU PROSECUTES FIRST TIP CASE AND JOINS WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L HONG KONG 000155

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/RSA, EAP/CM, G/TIP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2033
TAGS: KWMN KCRM PGOV PHUM ELAB SMIG ASEC CH HK MC
SUBJECT: MACAU PROSECUTES FIRST TIP CASE AND JOINS WITH
HONG KONG TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING

REF: HONG KONG 2360


1. (SBU) Summary: The Macau Public Prosecutions Office (PPO)
announced January 17, 2008 that it had charged the first-ever
suspect in a case of international human trafficking through
Macau. According to "Macau Daily News," a Vietnamese woman
was charged with human trafficking after she recruited four
Vietnamese women in Vietnam and brought them to Macau via
China to work in a massage parlor. Upon arrival, the alleged
trafficker forced the victims to offer sexual services to
customers and subsequently forced them to pay back visa
application fees and transportation charges; the victims then
reported the case to the police. In a separate but related
development, the Macau Human Trafficking Deterrent Measures
Concern Committee discussed laws and measures used in Hong
Kong to prevent and prosecute cases of human trafficking, as
well as methods used to protect and support victims with
counterparts in the Hong Kong government and Disciplined
Services on January 18, 2007. End summary.


2. (SBU) Comment: The first prosecution of a trafficking
case in Macau is important evidence of the Macau government's
decision to make fighting TIP a priority. The authorities in
Macau and Hong Kong have shared information and cooperated in
the past when investigating money laundering and corruption,
among other crimes, but Macau's willingness to reach out to
its neighbor and coordinate on cross-border human trafficking
cases is a practical step to increase its capacity to deal
with trafficking. In addition, Chinese and English-language
newspapers in Macau are increasingly reporting on trafficking
in persons cases and related developments, helping to raise
awareness among those living in or visiting the bourgeoning
enclave. End comment.

Macau,s First TIP Prosecution
--------------


3. (SBU) The Public Prosecutions Office (PPO) in Macau
announced on January 17 that it had charged a suspect in the
first prosecuted case of international human trafficking
through Macau. Press reports did not specify when the
alleged crimes were comitted, but the PPO said the case had
been delivered to the court for hearing and the alleged
trafficker would face a maximum penalty of eight years'
imprisonment.


4. (C) According to "Macau Daily News," a Vietnamese woman
was charged with human trafficking after she recuited four
Vietnamese women in Vietnam and brougt them into Maau, via
China, to work in a massae parlor. Upon arrival, the
trafficker allegedlyforced the women to offer sexual
services to cusomers. When the victims refused, the
traffickerforced them to pay back visa application fees and
transportation charges totaling 2,500 USD each, and also
threatened the safety of their family members in Vietnam if
they failed to pay. The income already earned by the victims
was taken by the trafficker, who only gave each victim 70
patacas (approximately 10 USD) per week for living expenses.
The victims then reported the case to the police. Sister
Juliana Devoy (protect),Director of the
Good Shepherd Sisters women's shelter in Macau, told poloff
that she interpreted the recent prosecution as "evidence the
government is getting serious."

Macau and Hong Kong Join to Combat Trafficking
-------------- -


5. (SBU) In a separate but related development, the Human
Trafficking Deterrent Measures Concern Committee in Macau
(see reftel) met with counterparts in the Hong Kong
government and Disciplined Services on January 18, 2007 to
discuss existing laws and measures used in Hong Kong to
prevent and prosecute cases of human trafficking, as well as
methods used to protect and support victims. The Chief of
Office in the Office of the Secretary for Security in Macau
and the coordinator of the concern committee, Vong Chun-fat,
met with Hong Kong,s Permanent Secretary for Security Chang
King-yiu, along with representatives from the Hong Kong
Police Force, Department of Justice, and Immigration and
Health departments; they agreed to strengthen regional
cooperation, especially the exchange of intelligence, against
human trafficking.
Cunningham