The Macau government is considering enabling searches of residences between 9 pm and 7 am for investigations related to crimes against national security.
Chan Chak Mo, the head of the Legislative Assembly’s Second Standing Committee, revealed this information after a review of a bill designed to combat illegal gambling on Wednesday.
The new legislation proposes enabling searches of residences between 9 pm and 7 am and preventing detainees from communicating with individuals other than their lawyer before the judicial interrogation.
Concerns were raised by the Legislative Assembly on whether this proposed provision, currently limited to illicit gambling, will be introduced for investigations for other ‘covertly conducted crimes’, such as money laundering, terrorism, organised crime, and offences against national security.
In response, the government said that they were ‘open to the possibility’ of introducing the nighttime search provision for other serious crimes in the future.
This could be achieved through amending the existing Criminal Procedure Code or introducing similar provisions for such crimes.
Regarding the fines for illegal mahjong operations, the lawmakers asked the government representatives to explain whether such operations in restaurants and socialising clubs would be considered illegal.
The government representatives clarified that the provisions would only target unauthorised ‘mahjong gambling operations for profit’, and establishments that solely provide venues for recreational mahjong playing without the intention of making profits would not face fines.
