Alan Ho, accused of running prostitution ring, is a ‘very honest and just’ man, court told
SJM chief executive Ambrose So praises character of Stanley Ho’s nephew, who faces allegations that he ran a prostitution racket at the Lisboa Hotel
Alan Ho, former executive director of the Hotel Lisboa and one of the six defendants in a “vice ring” trial in Macau, was described as “honest” and “just” in court.
Ambrose So Shu-fai, chief executive of Macau-based casino operator SJM Holdings, said the nephew of gambling kingpin Stanley Ho Hung-sun was a “very honest and just person” as well as “very direct and straightforward”. In that regard, “he almost doesn’t seem Chinese,” So noted, according to local broadcaster Radio Macau.
Such comments about Ho’s forthright character, So added, used to be repeated by many of his colleagues.
So appeared as a defence witness for Ho in Macau’s Court of First Instance on Friday. He said he had known Ho for over 20 years.
Ho, 69, was arrested in January last year along with five other people. Ninety-six prostitutes were also detained. Ho is facing 90 charges of sexual exploitation, and is also accused of founding and leading a criminal organisation.
The ring allegedly controlled 100 rooms in the Hotel Lisboa since 2013, making a profit of 400 million patacas a year.
