A tourist from China allegedly staged his own kidnapping to pay off gambling debts and sent threatening messages to his aunt for ransom money.

The police said on March 9 at about 6.51pm, they received a call for assistance that a 33-year-old male Chinese national named Liu Changjian had been kidnapped.

He arrived in Singapore on March 1 and was supposed to return to China on March 6 but did not do so.

His aunt received text messages through WeChat from an unknown person seeking a ransom of 30,000 RMB (S$5,500) for the release of her nephew. The photo of his travel document was also sent as proof.

The aunt, who was in China at the time, alerted Liu’s father, who called the Singapore Police Force from China.

Within three hours, officers from Central Police Division managed to find Liu safe and sound around Marina Bay.

According to court documents, he allegedly attempted to cheat his aunt when he was at the Marina Bay Sands Casino between March 7 and 8.

Further investigations revealed that Liu had gambling debts amounting between S$20,000 and S$30,000. To recoup, he pretended to be someone else and staged his own kidnapping.

He sent threatening messages to his aunt in hopes to receive the ransom money.

However, no ransom was paid to him or anyone else and his mobile devices were seized in connection to the case.

Liu was to be charged in court on March 11 for his suspected involvement in a case of attempted cheating by staging his own kidnapping.

If convicted, he may face an imprisonment term of up to 10 years, a fine, or both.