Macao's Public Prosecution has charged 14 residents with election-related crimes, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.

The statement released by the Public Prosecution said the 14 suspects were involved in "an electoral fraud scheme" that included the illegal retention of voter registration cards.

The statement described the suspects' activities as having "seriously infringed the fairness and order of the elections".

The special administrative region held legislative polls on September 25.

(Xinhua News Agency October 5, 2005)