2 Chinese men imprisoned for using counterfeit bills

The Quang Ninh Province People's Court on Tuesday sentenced Tong Zhi Jie, 36, to five years and Guo Jun, 30, to three for "possessing and circulating counterfeit currency."

They received prison sentences of five years and three years, respectively.

According to the indictment, on Aug. 16, 2024, the duo entered Vietnam through the Mong Cai International Border Gate in Quang Ninh carrying fake currency notes worth 18,700 yuan (US$2,600).

They intended to use the fake money while gambling at a hotel but were dissuaded by the strict monitoring there.

At 6:30 p.m. they went to a drink stall opposite the hotel to exchange the money.

Tong gave 3,000 yuan to the stall owner, Siu, and received VND10.56 million ($400) in return.

Siu discovered that eight of the 30 banknotes were fake and called back Tong as he left.

Tong took back the fake notes possibly to avoid suspicion, but nevertheless Siu reported the incident to the police.

Officers arrived soon afterward and searched Tong's bag, and found 165 100 yuan bills.

Tests by the local police's criminal technical division confirmed that all 165 banknotes were counterfeit. In total, the duo brought 187 fake yuan bills into Vietnam.

During questioning Tong claimed that he had traveled to Malaysia last June to install computer software for a friend named Li, who paid him 18,700 yuan, and all turned out to be counterfeit.

Knowing the money could not be used in China, he decided to bring it to Vietnam to spend, he said.