Another currency exchange dealer who claimed to be unemployed was arrested for “illegal exchange activities for the purpose of gambling”, the third arrestee within three days after a new law that has criminalised such activities came into effect on Tuesday.
According to a special press conference by Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Ho Chan Nam yesterday, the suspect is a 40-year-old mainland man surnamed Huang, who was caught red-handed by PJ officers on patrol in a casino in Cotai on Wednesday when exchanging 19,845 yuan for a mainland gambler’s casino chips worth HK$21,000.
In the operation, Ho noted, PJ officers seized a mobile phone, HK$500 in cash and HK$25,900 in chips from the suspect, who told the police that he could earn HK$80 for every HK$10,000 exchanged.
The Judiciary Police once again warned the public that both locals and non-locals who offer illegal currency exchange deals for the purpose of gambling are now facing a maximum prison term of five years, with all money and valuables used in the illegal business to be confiscated by the authorities, strongly urging residents and tourists alike to exchange money only at legitimate financial entities.
The hooded illegal currency exchange dealer from the mainland is escorted by Judiciary Police (PJ) officers from the PJ headquarters in Zape to a vehicle yesterday. – Photo: Yuki Lei
