The trial of Suncity Group founder Alvin Chau is scheduled to begin Friday, September 2. But the case may be continued because some of Chau’s co-defendants are not physically present in Macau, where the proceedings will be held.
According to the Macao News, the indictment covers 21 defendants, of whom five or more are outside Macau, including some being held in Mainland China prisons. Ninety-two witnesses are set to testify for the prosecution, including 14 police officers. The remainder are mostly former Suncity employees.
Chau was arrested in late November 2021 and charged with illegal gambling, money laundering, fraud, “heading a secret association or society” and running an illegal online gambling operation in the Philippines. His underground business reportedly conducted more than HK$800 billion (US$102 billion) in transactions.
According to a December report in the Sydney Morning Herald, in his youth the 47-year-old defendant was a protégé of Macau Triad kingpin Wan “Broken Tooth” Kuok-koi, who helped stake his junket business. By the late 2000s, most major Macau casinos featured Suncity high-roller rooms. He also worked with Australian casino companies including Crown Resorts, Star Entertainment and SkyCity. But as his power and influence grew, so did speculation that the Suncity boss was involved in money laundering.
In December 2021, shortly after Chau was arrested, Suncity Group terminated its junket business, and Chau then resigned as chairman. The Suncity entity listed in Hong Kong announced in July this year it had changed its name to LET Group.
