Chinese consulate condemns ‘professional begging’ after arrests in Melbourne
- Seven elderly Chinese nationals in Australia on tourist visas charged with begging and possessing property suspected of being the proceeds of a crime
- Police say ‘they’re not vulnerable people, they have got access to housing and they’re just taking advantage’
China’s consulate in Melbourne on Saturday condemned “professional begging” operations, after local authorities arrested a group of elderly Chinese nationals who were allegedly flown to the city to make money from passers-by.
The consulate said it had yet to verify the identities of the seven people arrested in the Australian city’s central business district on Monday and Tuesday.
It added that the case should be handled according to the law.
“The dirty conduct of organising and manipulating elderly people to beg ought to be condemned,” the consulate said in a statement. “We are closely monitoring the development of the case.”
Police in Melbourne said the seven people were charged with begging and possessing property suspected of being the proceeds of a crime, according to Australian media reports.
Of the seven, three were women aged 65, 67 and 71, while two were men aged 68 and 72, police said.