🚔 Fights, theft, forgery · Awareness case
An Iranian with Altered Passports Cashed Lost Travellers' Cheques in Beijing Hotels — 8 Years and Expulsion · Yalla China
🤝 Governing law: 刑法（1979）第152条、第30条 / Criminal Law (1979) Arts 152 & 30
Between 1987 and 1988 an Iranian entered China four times on altered Pakistani and Saudi passports and cashed reported-lost travellers' cheques 37 times at Beijing hotels for about RMB 131,600; he got eight years plus expulsion.
Illustrative, general educational examples — not real specific facts and not legal advice; for awareness only. For an actual situation, consult a licensed lawyer.
As published in the Gazette of the Supreme People's Court: Mohammad Imami, a 25-year-old Iranian national, entered China four times between November 1987 and March 1988 on altered Pakistani and Saudi passports belonging to other people. Imitating the original holders' signatures, he cashed reported-lost travellers' cheques (American Express, cheques sold via a Bahrain firm, and a Swiss bank) at a Bank of China exchange office and more than ten Beijing hotels — 37 times, for RMB 131,586.25 in foreign exchange certificates. He was caught in the act at the Beijing International Hotel on 18 March 1988, with another 115 lost cheques worth USD 9,300 in his bag. On 2 November 1988 the Beijing Intermediate Court sentenced him to eight years for fraud plus expulsion and confiscation; the Beijing High Court rejected his appeal on 30 January 1989. Basis: 1979 Criminal Law Art 3 (Chinese law applies to crimes in China), Art 152 (fraud) and Art 30 (expulsion).
🎓 The lesson / takeaway
Chinese criminal law applies to anyone who offends in China whatever their nationality; altered passports are exposed through handwriting checks on entry cards and hotel registers, and expulsion is a common add-on penalty for foreigners.
🕒 Updated: 16 March 2026