In a startling turn of events, Singaporean authorities have brought forth one count of attempted cheating against a Chinese tourist who orchestrated a hoax kidnapping in a bid to extort funds from his relatives.

The individual in question, identified as Liu Changjian, aged 33, made his appearance in court on Monday, where he entered a plea of not guilty, as reported by The Straits Times.

Liu is scheduled to return to court on March 25 for a pre-trial conference.

Under Singaporean law, individuals found guilty of attempted cheating could face a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

According to investigators, Liu entered Singapore on March 1 under the visa-free policy, with plans to depart for China five days later.

However, he failed to adhere to his scheduled departure.

It was during his stay, particularly on March 7 and 8, that Liu was reportedly spotted at the Marina Bay Sands Casino.

Subsequently, he orchestrated his own kidnapping as a means to deceive his relatives in China and extort ransom money to cover his gambling debts.

Reports indicate that Liu’s aunt received alarming messages via WeChat last week, claiming her nephew had been abducted and demanding a ransom of up to 30,000 yuan (4,173.00 USD).

Promptly, the family reached out to the Singaporean authorities for assistance.

Following an intensive three-hour investigation, law enforcement officers successfully located Liu and ensured his safety.

Further inquiries unveiled that Liu had accumulated gambling debts ranging between S$20,000 (15013.89 USD) and S$30,000 (22520.83 USD).

In a statement issued by the police, it was affirmed, “The man disguised his identity and staged his own kidnapping.

Nevertheless, no ransom was handed over to him or any other party involved.”

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the repercussions individuals may face when resorting to fraudulent actions, particularly in the realm of criminal law.