Wan Kuok-koi 尹國駒, the notorious Triad leader of 14-K, popularly known as 崩牙駒 is about to release in prison as....
(Reuters) - Police in the world gambling capital Macau arrested five people on Saturday on suspicion of planning to commit murder as the territory off the coast of China braces for the imminent release from jail of a notorious gang leader.
One of those arrested, local media said, was former police officer Artur Chiang Calderon, who was believed to be a key player in the infamous 14K triad society.
Calderon was first arrested in 1998 along with Wan Kuok-koi, commonly known as ‘Broken Tooth', the leader of the 14k. Both men were involved in a string of bomb attacks and bloody gang wars that rocked Macau in the 1990s.
Calderon was released after 10-and-a-half years in jail, while Wan is due to be freed on December 1.
Macau, a territory on China's southern coast famous for its lavish casinos, has been changed dramatically in the past 15 years into a magnet for high rollers and global investors.
Gaming revenue was $33.5 billion in Macau in 2011, more than five times more than that of Las Vegas.
From its roots as a seedy, crime ridden enclave where shoot-outs broke out in broad daylight, the former Portuguese colony, has been transformed by gleaming casino towers and luxury residential complexes. One in four Macau locals work in the gaming industry and the reliance on Chinese gamblers who flock across the border is growing ever more acute.
Police have been ramping up security ahead of Wan's release, asking casinos and hotels to remain vigilant.
"We are well equipped to handle all situations," a spokeswoman for Macau's judiciary police said, declining to mention any specific case.
The murder and mayhem seen in Macau in the late 1990s was sparked by the triads who attempted to capture the lucrative VIP gambling market.
Macau police arrest five, gangster Broken Tooth release due | Reuters
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Broken Tooth Koi 崩牙駒 Wan had a tough childhood, growing up in the slums of Macau and fighting for his life on the street, before rising through the ranks of the 14K. His rise was accelerated by the arrival of another gangster, Ng Wai, whom he began to work for. As Wan's position in the 14K got higher, Wai asked him to 'eliminate' his boss, Mo-Ding Ping, an assignment which Wan accepted. This provoked a year-long turf war, finally coming to a close when Ping had to flee Macau to avoid a murder charge.
However, tension between the two gangsters grew as Wai grew wary of Wan's high-profile persona. Teaming up with rival triad group the Shui Fong, a vicious turf war broke out in 1996 and 1997. In early 1997, an unsigned letter was sent to several newspapers in the area. It said: "Warning: From this day on it is forbidden to mention Broken Tooth Koi in the press; otherwise bullets will have no eyes, and knives and bullets will have no feelings."
In 1997 Wan briefly fled Macau to avoid two arrest warrants, one from a new anti-triad law enacted in Macau, and one for drug-trafficking from China. However in August a Portuguese judge cleared Wan of all charges, and unexpectedly retired and moved back to Portugal the very next day.
Wan then proceeded to attack Wai in public, putting up posters claiming he was a drug trafficker and declaring that anyone visiting Wai's casinos would become his enemy. Ultimately, Wan amassed enough power and influence and took over Wai's rackets completely. By this time he was earning $6 million a month from his legal gambling establishments.
Wan Kuok-koi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Criminal mind
Wan Kuok-koi 尹國駒
The prison
Wan Kuok-koi was once considered one of the world's top crime bosses. Dubbed "Broken Tooth," he ruled Macau with an iron fist for nearly two decades before his reign of terror abruptly ended with his arrest in 1999.
Wan shot to international fame, or notoriety, in 1998 after being featured in Time and Newsweek magazines. Within months, the once-feared leader was arrested and is currently serving the eighth year of his 15-year prison term. Rumor has it Broken Tooth is now a broken man.
Solitary confinement has apparently driven the former arrogant godfather, now 52, to the brink of a mental breakdown. As expected, it was not easy to locate the former triad kingpin, but Eastweek magazine, a sister publication of The Standard, finally tracked him down at Lai Chi Vun prison on Coloane Island.
The prison, a small-scale establishment with only 10 cells, is home to some of the most prominent criminals, among them Broken Tooth. Now a shadow of his former self, he laughs for no apparent reason, seems depressed, and is unresponsive when meals are served. His condition has raised much concern.
full story:
Criminal mind - The Standard
