A man from the mainland was arrested on Wednesday for engaging in illegal currency exchange activities, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Ho Wai Lok said during yesterday’s special press conference.
The special press conference was held at the PJ headquarters in Zape.
Ho identified the suspect as a 36-year-old male surnamed Li who told the police that he is jobless.
According to Ho, PJ officers patrolling a casino in Cotai on Wednesday afternoon, witnessed Li engaging in an illegal currency exchange activity with a gambler. Li approached the gambler and offered a currency exchange deal. The gambler then scanned the QR code provided by Li, after which he handed over HK$30,000 in chips to the gambler. After the deal, the gambler entered the casino to gamble while Li left. The police later apprehended Li and the gambler in the casino. The gambler then turned witness in the case.
Under questioning, the gambler told the police that Li had exchanged HK$30,000 for 27,960 yuan. The police seized HK$160,000 in chips and 8,000 yuan in cash from Li, along with HK$30,000 in cash and chips from the gambler.
Ho said that as Li refused to cooperate, PJ officers have been unable to determine how much Li earned from the illegal currency exchange operations.
Li has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), facing an illegal currency exchange charge, according to Ho.
Police nab 2 illegal currency exchange dealers
Meanwhile, PJ spokesman Ho Wai Lok said that their officers nabbed two illegal currency exchange dealers also on Wednesday.
Ho identified the duo as 35- and 36-year-old male mainlanders surnamed Zheng and Jiang, who told the police that they are jobless.
According to Ho, PJ officers patrolling a casino in Cotai on Wednesday morning witnessed Zheng and Jiang engaging in an illegal currency exchange activity with a gambler. Jiang approached the gambler and offered a currency exchange deal. Jiang scanned the QR code provided by the gambler, after which the duo handed over HK$50,000 in five chips to the gambler. After the deal, the gambler entered the casino to gamble while the duo left. The police later apprehended the duo and the gambler in the casino. The gambler then turned witnesses in the case.
Under questioning, the duo exchanged 46,750 yuan for HK$50,000. The police discovered that the duo had been engaging in illegal currency exchange activities since late May, earning HK$7,200. The police seized HK$18,000 in chips and two mobile phones from Zheng and Jiang.
The duo have been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), facing an illegal currency exchange charge, according to Ho.
Two hooded illegal currency exchange dealers, surnamed Zheng and Jiang, from the mainland are escorted by Judiciary Police (PJ) officers from the PJ headquarters to a PJ vehicle in Zape after yesterday’s special press conference.
Evidence seized from a mainland illegal currency exchange dealer surnamed Li is displayed during yesterday’s special press conference at the Judiciary Police (PJ) headquarters in Zape. – Photos: Armindo Neves
