A man from the mainland was arrested on Monday for participating in illegal currency exchange activities, fraud and money laundering, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Cheong Kim Fong said during a regular press conference yesterday.
The 27-year-old suspect is surnamed Pan.
According to Cheong, a young woman from the mainland wanted to transfer money she won gambling in a local casino back to the mainland. She contacted Pan on Sunday to arrange an illegal currency exchange deal for her after consulting a friend. Pan went to her hotel room in Cotai for the deal, and both agreed to exchange HK$148,000 (152,000 patacas) into 140,000 yuan. She displayed a payment QR code for Pan to transfer the money. She handed over HK$148,000 to Pan after he had transferred 140,000 yuan to her phone. Pan left the hotel after receiving the money.
Later that day, the woman discovered that her account had been frozen. She contacted the mainland bank, which informed her that her account was frozen due to receiving illicit funds. The victim encountered Pan in the lobby of another hotel in Cotai on the following day. She stopped him and reported the case to the police. The police arrested Pan but did not find the victim’s money on him.
Under questioning, Pan refused to cooperate.
According to Cheong, Pan has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) and is facing charges of illegal currency exchange, fraud, and money laundering.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Cheong Kim Fong looks on during yesterday’s regular press conference. – Photo: Ada Lei
