Macau (MOP) – A public auction launched nearly a month ago in the Macau SAR to sell luxury goods which had been found in the possession of former Secretary for Land and Public Works, Ao Man Long, fail to attract interest, TDM Radio reported on Wednesday.
Citing information provided by the Financial Services Bureau (DSF), the local broadcaster said the MSAR Government only managed to raise MOP641,000 from the first batch of goods put at auction – which included rare bottles of French wine, diamond-engraved watches, and jewellery – from a base bid value of over MOP2.8 million.
The item which commanded the highest interest and bid among buyers was a fungus called yartsa gunbu, known as the ‘Himalayan viagra,’ of which 4,2 kilograms put at auction sold at MOP400,000 – from an initial valuation of MOP138,000. The fungus is reportedly used in the treatment of male sexual dysfunction in traditional Chinese medicine.
The majority of the some 300 bottles of wine and spirits owned by the former Secretary estimated at MOP3,8 million still need to find buyers with only eight bottles being sold by a total consideration of MOP95,000.
A Girard-Perregaux watch appraised at MOP1 million equally failed to encourage bids.
The luxury goods were apprehended nearly 11 years ago by the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) and later reverted to the MSAR Government, at the time Mr. Ao was accused in a corruption scandal linked to the illegal concession of land plots for casino developers. The scheme, revealed in 2006, led to the conviction of the former official in 2008. He was handed a 27-year sentence in prison.
The local radio broadcaster also said that the financial authority, in charge of overseeing the public auction, claimed that other goods apprehended in connection with the convicted Secretary may be put at auction in the future.
Other items in the list of apprehended goods include shark fin and bird’s nests.
The jewellery apprehended in Mr. Ao’s possession have been estimated at MOP4 million.
