The Judiciary Police (PJ) arrested a man from the Chinese mainland on Monday for engaging in illegal currency exchange activities, PJ spokesman Cheong Siu Keong said during a regular press conference yesterday.
Cheong identified the suspect as a 41-year-old male surnamed Yao who claimed to be jobless.
According to Cheong, PJ officers on patrol outside a casino in Cotai on Monday witnessed Yao engaging in an illegal currency exchange deal with a middle-aged male gambler. The gambler then entered the casino with HK$2,000 in chips for gambling. The police intercepted the gambler and later apprehended Yao in the casino.
Cheong noted that Yao had exchanged HK$2,000 in chips for 1,990 yuan with the gambler. The police seized HK$71,000 in chips from Yao, along with HK$500 in cash from the gambler.
Under questioning, Yao admitted to having engaged in illegal currency exchange activities since the beginning of September, claiming to have earned a total of 6,000 yuan.
Yao has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), facing an illegal currency exchange charge.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Cheong Siu Keong looks on during yesterday’s regular press conference. – Photo: Ada Lei
