Hong Kong actor Cheng Chun Hei has been arrested in connection with a fraud case. Photo: Cheng Chun Hei/Instagram
Hong Kong media reported that the TVB actor Cheng Chun Hei was arrested in Tai Po, Hong Kong on Wednesday (Oct 4) under suspicion of his involvement in a fraud case related to a cryptocurrency trading platform.
Cheng, 29, was photographed with a black hood over his head as he was escorted by police officers to Nam Hang Tsuen in the Tai Tong area of Yuen Long, where authorities impounded his white Porsche.
According to South China Morning Post, a source familiar with the case claimed that Cheng was a member of a fraud syndicate behind the cryptocurrency platform JPEX.
The source also alleged that the seized vehicle, which reportedly cost around HK$1.4mil (RM844,439), had been bought with criminal proceeds.
At press time, 20 people have been arrested in connection to this fraud case involving over HK$1.5bil (RM904.8mil) in assets.
Cheng is not the first celebrity to be implicated in this crypto scandal.
Last month, Malaysian-born TVB star Jacquelin Ch’ng and Hong Kong actor Julian Cheung were questioned by authorities for their alleged connection with JPEX.
Both celebrities were reported to be cooperative and had no issues assisting with the investigation.
The probe into JPEX’s alleged fraud began after the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission on Sept 13 alerted police that the cryptocurrency exchange platform had been operating in the city without a license.
Hong Kong authorities stated that they have received more than 2,400 complaints against JPEX so far.
Cheng joined an artiste training class under TVB in 2017 and made his debut a year later. The actor has appeared in the dramas OMG, Your Honour (2018) and Brutally Young (2020).
