A Chinese gambler is facing the real prospect of spending the next ten years in prison after being charged by authorities in Singapore with faking his kidnapping as part of a failed attempt to extort approximately $4,170 from relatives.

Liu Changjian traveled to Singapore on March 1 for a six-day holiday and subsequently enjoyed some action at the 2,975-room Marina Bay Sands, a renowned casino destination. However, the 33-year-old also managed to rack up gambling debts totaling as much as $22,500 before not turning up for his flight home.

Concerning Contact

The Independent reported Liu’s aunt back in China then received a number of texts from an unidentified sender over the WeChat social messaging app demanding ¥30,000 ($4,178) in cash for the release of her nephew. One of the communications included a photograph of the gambler’s passport as proof of his abduction, alongside a veiled threat as to what could happen if the ransom was not received.

But, instead of complying with this suspect request, the aunt showed the messages to Liu’s father, who immediately telephoned the Singapore Police Force (SPF) for assistance. Law enforcement officials in the city-state announced they then found the missing gambler in the Marina Bay area ‘safe and sound’ only three hours after beginning their initial search.

“In the text messages, the unknown person forwarded the photo of the man’s travel document as proof,” read a statement from the SPF.

Serious Consequences

After being located, Channel News Asia reported Liu was arrested on suspicion of cheating and had his mobile devices seized. The accused, who is currently on remand in Singapore, pled not guilty on Monday via video link but could be required to pay a stiff fine or even serve a ten-year prison sentence if convicted.

Important Instruction

Liu is next due to appear in court on March 25 for a pre-trial conference with the SPF declaring it ‘takes a serious view against any person who may be involved in scams, whether knowingly or unwittingly’. The body went on to advise members of the public to treat unsolicited calls with caution especially if they happen to be from unknown parties abroad.

The SPF asserted such prudence should additionally encompass ignoring such communications and any attached instructions. The organization finished by advising people never to transfer funds to a dubious entity and to always seek advice from a trusted friend or relative before acting.