Sai Mai Wa is actually the nickname of a character from the Hong Kong comedy series City Japes, played by Spencer Leung Sze Ho. Mainland Chinese netizens may not be familiar with “Sai Mei Wa”, and many Weibo users have argued if this person’s surname is “Sai” (洗, xi in hanyu pinyin) or “Sin” (冼, xian in hanyu pinyin). Those arrested admitted to establishing an overseas gambling platform and running illicit online betting activities, but refused to cooperate in other areas of investigation.
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#Macau casino tycoon alvin chau cracked
On 28 November, the Macau Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária, PJ) called a press conference to report that it had cracked a case of illegal gambling and money laundering, with 11 suspects held, among them a 47-year-old businessman surnamed Chau. Share prices of listed companies under Chau tumbled on 29 November, also affecting the prices of other gambling stocks in Macau. Both Suncity's Hong Kong and Macau websites were inaccessible on 1 December while trading in the group's shares in Hong Kong were also suspended, the second time this week.
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The chairman of Macau’s biggest casino junket operator Suncity Group Holdings, known by his nickname Sai Mai Wa (洗米华, literally “rice washer Wa”), is reported to be held in Macau’s Coloane Prison on allegations of illegally running casinos, which has seriously hampered social order.