Hong Kong customs arrests 51-year-old woman on suspicion of laundering more than HK$350 million over 3 years
SCMP 3:33pm, 15 Jun, 2022
- Senior customs investigator says suspect had allegedly laundered illegal proceeds in series of more than 1,500 transactions between November 2018 and October 2021
- Suspect formerly employed by owner of money exchange company arrested in 2020 in connection with laundering HK$3 billion Hong Kong customs has arrested a 51-year-old woman for allegedly using her bank accounts to launder more than HK$350 million (US$44.5 million) in suspected criminal proceeds over a period of three years. According to a senior customs official on Wednesday, the department’s investigation showed the woman had allegedly laundered the funds, including one transaction involving HK$15 million, using 23 bank accounts between November 2018 and October 2021. But he said the suspect had only earned between HK$8,000 and HK$15,000 per month working for a money exchange company during that period.The Post has learned that the suspect’s former employer, who owned another money exchange company, was among six people rounded up in connection with a HK$3 billion money-laundering case in 2020, the largest to be uncovered by customs.
The woman was picked up on Wednesday morning when a team of officers from customs’ syndicate crimes investigation bureau raided her home in Jordan. Her mobile phone and several bank cards were also seized during the operation.
She was detained on suspicion of money laundering – an offence that is punishable by up to 14 years in jail and a HK$5 million fine.
Sources: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3181774/hong-kong-customs-arrest-51-year-old-woman-suspicion?module=perpetual_scroll_0&pgtype=article&campaign=3181774