Two Chinese Nationals Sentenced for Swindling in Singapore’s Chinatown
In a recent case that has drawn attention, two Chinese nationals have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in a series of fraudulent activities targeting shops in Singapore’s Chinatown. The duo, who hail from the same village in China, employed a deceptive method to swindle a total of S$150 from local retailers.
According to reports from Shin Min Daily News, the pair’s scheme involved purchasing inexpensive items with a S$100 note. After receiving change that included at least one S$50 note, they would claim they preferred to pay with smaller denominations. During the exchange, they would return the S$100 note while discreetly pocketing the S$50 note before leaving the store, often before the staff realized the theft.
One of the individuals, 61-year-old Li Zuhui, had previously visited Singapore twice in 2024, specifically in April and December, where he targeted small shops that lacked security personnel. Notably, he kept a notebook to document the routes he took during his visits.
The first incident occurred on April 11, 2024, when Li purchased an S$8 doll from a shop in Chinatown. After receiving S$92 in change, which included a S$50 note, he claimed he would pay with smaller bills. He returned only S$42, pocketing the S$50 note before exiting the store. The staff only discovered the missing S$50 after counting the cash later.
Li’s second fraudulent act took place on December 28, 2024, at another shop in Chinatown, where he again used the same tactic to steal a S$50 note while purchasing a refrigerator magnet. The shop staff became suspicious after the second incident and reviewed CCTV footage, which led to Li’s arrest on December 30.
The second individual, 62-year-old Pan Zhonglin, also from the same village as Li, was implicated in a similar incident that occurred on December 25, 2024. Pan used the same method to swindle S$50 from the same shop. Both men had flown into Singapore on the same flights and stayed at the same hotel during their visits.
Pan pleaded guilty to one count of fraud and was sentenced to two months in prison on February 27, 2025. The swift actions of the shop staff and the subsequent police investigation highlight the importance of vigilance in retail environments, especially in areas frequented by tourists.
This case serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges posed by fraudulent activities in commercial areas and the need for enhanced awareness among shopkeepers to prevent similar incidents in the future.