A woman from the mainland was arrested on Monday for engaging in illegal currency exchange activities, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Cheong Kim Fong said during a regular press conference yesterday.
Cheong identified the suspect as a 54-year-old female surnamed Guo who told the police that she is jobless.
According to Cheong, PJ officers patrolling a casino in Cotai on Monday witnessed Guo engaging in an illegal currency exchange activity with two middle-aged male gamblers from the mainland. Guo approached the gamblers and offered a currency exchange deal. One of the gamblers then scanned the QR code provided by Guo, after which she handed over HK$30,000 in cash to the gambler. After the deal, the gamblers entered the casino to gamble while Guo left. The police later apprehended Guo and the gamblers in the casino. The gamblers then turned witnesses in the case.
Under questioning, Guo refused to cooperate. The witnesses told police that Guo had exchanged HK$30,000 for 28,200 yuan. The police discovered that Guo had been engaging in illegal currency exchange activities since the beginning of this month, having earned a profit of 750 yuan from the latest deal. The police seized HK$160,000 and 60,000 yuan in cash from Guo, along with HK$25,900 in cash and chips from the gamblers.
Guo has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), facing an illegal currency exchange charge, according to Cheong.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Cheong Kim Fong looks on during yesterday’s regular press conference. – Photo: Ada Lei
