A 44-year-old Chinese national has been sentenced to a week in jail for operating an unauthorized currency exchange service at Marina Bay Sands Casino. Qu Hongtao pleaded guilty to two charges related to casino regulations and payment services laws violations.
Qu discovered the money-making scheme through Douyin, a Chinese social media platform, before arriving in Singapore on a social visit pass in September 2024. He partnered with Bai Debing, a 37-year-old construction worker in Singapore whose case remains pending.
Bai launched the illegal operation in August 2024 after learning that people were offering similar services for a 1% commission. He offered Qu $7 for every $1,000 exchanged if Qu found customers. Through this arrangement, Qu earned between $100 and $200 after introducing more than ten customers.
The pair facilitated transactions by exchanging Chinese yuan transfers for Singapore dollars in casino chips. Court documents show they conducted at least two illegal exchanges within an hour on October 30, 2024. During one transaction, a customer surnamed Wang transferred Chinese yuan at the casino, then Bai purchased $10,000 worth of chips which Qu handed to her.
Prosecutors requested a one to two-week jail term, arguing that Qu and his accomplice deliberately broke Singapore laws for profit and disrupted casino operations.
In his defense, Qu claimed he didn’t understand local laws and promised not to repeat the offense. He stated he had been unable to leave Singapore for over five months since the incident.
