Two individuals from mainland China were apprehended for engaging in an illegal currency exchange transaction on Tuesday, the same day as a new law criminalising illegal currency exchanges on and in the vicinity of casino premises took effect, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Ho Chan Nam said during a special press conference yesterday.
The 51-year-old male suspect surnamed Yao and the 48-year-old female suspect surnamed Qian told the police that they’re jobless.
According to Ho, PJ officers saw Yao and Qian offering an illegal currency exchange deal to a mainland male gambler in a Cotai casino smoking lounge on Tuesday morning. After the gambler transferred 28,300 yuan by scanning the QR code provided by Qian, she handed him HK$30,000 in gambling chips.
Yao and Qian were apprehended on the spot. The police confiscated the HK$30,000 worth of chips from the gambler, who then became a witness in the case, as well as HK$21,300 in casino chips from the suspects.
Under questioning, Qian confessed to the crime, revealing that she made a profit of 70 yuan for every 10,000 yuan exchanged.
The two suspects have been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), facing illegal currency exchange charges, Ho said.
Ho underlined that according to the new law illegal currency exchanges occurring at gaming resorts are criminal activities. Providing currency exchange services in casinos or near them is presumed to be for the purpose of facilitating gambling activities. Ho urged residents and tourists to exchange currency only at legitimate financial institutions and to refrain from utilising the services of illegal currency exchange dealers.
The hooded illegal currency exchange dealers 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. – Photo: William Chan
