A 33-year-old Chinese man, Liu Changjian, is facing charges for orchestrating his own kidnapping in an attempt to settle gambling debts. The court alleges that he deceived his aunt, Liu Yabo, attempting to extract a ransom of 30 thousand yuan ($4,170) under the guise of a kidnapping.
In early March, Liu Changjian sent threatening messages to his relative, posing as a kidnapper. When he provided a photo of his travel card as false evidence of the kidnapping, the concerned aunt informed the defendant's father, who then contacted the Singapore police. Within three hours, Liu Changjian was located safe at a casino area in Marina Bay Sands.
Despite evidence from police documents confirming his stay at the casino, Liu Changjian denies guilt. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 25.