Authorities are now looking for a man, who is said to be the mastermind of this illegal activity.
Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman retained the $5,000 cash bail he earlier imposed on Wing Yee Tse who is being held on charges of misuse of credit card and issuance of bad checks, conspiracy, and theft.
She was remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections after her initial appearance in court yesterday afternoon.
Assistant Attorney General Brian D. Gallagher represented the government while the court appointed Assistant Public Defender Douglas Hartig as Tse’s counsel.
Detective Buddy Igitol said Tse obtained the fake credit card from a man, identified only as “Principal,” in Shenzhen, China.
“Tse’s objective was to come to Saipan and use the fake credit card to purchase luxurious and expensive items.
Prior to departing China, Tse gives her name to a man in Hong Kong who then forges her name onto a fake credit card bearing ‘W Y TSE CHRISTINA,’ ” Igitol said.
On Oct. 30, 2010, at about 7:14 p.m., the department dispatched Police Officer Rudolpho Sablan to investigate a reported misuse of credit card at DFS.
DFS said a Chinese female, later identified as Tse, committed credit card fraud.
Two credit cards were found in the trashcan in the lady’s restroom.
About $4,210 worth of items were purchased using the fake credit cards.
Police learned that Tse, along with a middle-aged man wearing sunglasses, purchased several high-prized leather handbags using four different credit cards, two of which were declined.
After the purchase, Tse told DFS she was staying at the Saipan Grand Hotel.
DFS later learned from the hotel that it had no one registered by that name.
At about 6:15 pm. on same day, Tse was again seen at DFS, this time at the luxury watch department.
DFS started to monitor Tse through the security camera as she tried to purchase two Cartier watches worth $3,530. DFS later called for police assistance.
On Oct. 31, with the assistance of an interpreter, Detective Igitol interviewed Tse who waived her rights to an attorney and admitted using fake credit cards.
