Chinese national, 28, asked to borrow S$50,000 from friend, 37, grabs cash at S'pore hotel & runs, given 8 months’ jail
His cousin was also involved in the robbery.
On January 7, 2026, a 28-year-old Chinese national named Zhao Ziqi approached his 37-year-old friend in Singapore. Zhao claimed he had lost money gambling and needed S$50,000 to borrow. The friend, also a Chinese national, agreed to meet Zhao at the Orchard Hotel. While the friend was gambling, Zhao invited the friend to his hotel room.
There, Zhao's cousin was present and later escaped with some of the cash. Zhao grabbed the entire S$50,000 from the friend and fled to the hotel lobby. The friend chased after Zhao, and a struggle ensued. Zhao's cousin managed to snatch some cash and escape. The friend recovered S$27,500, while Zhao and his cousin escaped with S$22,500.
Police were alerted, and surveillance footage captured the incident. Zhao and his cousin were arrested at Changi Airport, with S$8,454 in cash seized from them. Zhao was charged with theft and pleaded guilty, receiving an eight-month jail sentence.
Written by urgent.news from Mothership's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
