2 Chinese nationals jailed for swindling S$150 from shops at S'pore Chinatown

Two mainland Chinese nationals have been jailed for swindling shops in Chinatown.

According to Shin Min Daily News, their modus operandi consisted of paying for a relatively cheap item using a S$100 note, then after receiving change that had at least one S$50 note suddenly claim they would pay with smaller notes instead.

When shop staff returned them their S$100 note. The men would also return the change to the staff and pay for the merchandise with smaller notes, however they would quickly pocket the S$50 note during the exchange, and leave before the staff noticed.

One of the nationals, 61-year-old Li Zuhui, visited Singapore twice in 2024, in April and December, and targeted small shops that did not have security personnel.

He also took a notebook to record the route he had taken.

Targeted shops in Chinatown

During his first visit on Apr. 11, 2024, Li went to a shop in Chinatown and bought an S$8 doll.

Upon being given S$92 in change, in the form of a S$50 note, four S$10 notes and a S$2 note, Li claimed he could pay for the doll with smaller bills.

Li then returned only S$42, while keeping the S$50 note for himself.

Once he had gotten back his S$100 and paid for the doll with smaller notes, he quickly left the store.

The staff only discovered the S$50 was missing when they later counted the money, but Li had already left.

The second incident happened on Dec. 28, 2024, also at another shop in Chinatown.

This time, Li decided to buy a refrigerator magnet at the second stall, according to closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage that was shown in court.

He also paid for the magnet using a S$100 note, and immediately pocketed the S$50 change he had received.

Li then returned the rest of the change to the shop's staff, paid for the magnet with smaller bills and left the shop quickly.

When the staff found out that the S$50 note was missing, she checked the CCTV and called the police.

Li was arrested on Dec. 30.

Both from same village

The second store at Chinatown had also been targeted on Dec. 25, by the second Chinese national, Pan Zhonglin.

Pan was from the same village as Li, and used the same method to swindle S$50 from the shop.

Shin Min reported that 62-year-old Pan flew on the same flights with Li into Singapore in April and December, and also stayed in the same hotel as Li in December.

The shop's staff was quoted as saying that she had thought the man had made an honest mistake during the first incident on Dec. 25.

However, she became suspicious when in happened a second time, which was why she decided to check the CCTV.

The staff added that in both instances, the incidents occurred in less than two minutes with both men immediately choosing a product without spending much time choosing the item.

Pan pleaded guilty to one count of fraud and was sentenced to two months in prison on Feb. 27.

Top photo via Shin Min Daily News