Hong Kong Authorities Arrest Two Siblings Accused of Laundering $384 Million via Banks, Crypto Platform
Authorities in Hong Kong have arrested two individuals accused of laundering about $384 million using various avenues including a cryptocurrency exchange trading platform. If convicted, the two face a maximum jail sentence of 14 years plus a fine of $5 million. An Indictable Offense
Two people accused of laundering about $384 million using a cryptocurrency exchange platform have been arrested, the Hong Kong regional government has said. The arrest of the two, a 28-year-old woman and her 21-year-old brother, followed a raid on their residential premises conducted by the Hong Kong Customs on December 28.
In a statement explaining the charges, the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said action had been taken because the siblings had dealt “with property known or reasonably believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence” under the region’s Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (OSCO).
The government’s statement also explains the investigative steps that had been taken prior to the arrests, noting: [The] investigation revealed that the two arrested persons had opened personal accounts between May to November last year at various banks in Hong Kong (including virtual banks) and a cryptocurrency exchange trading platform, and engaged in suspected money laundering by dealing with money from unknown sources through bank transfers, cash deposits and cryptocurrency.
Meanwhile, the statement revealed that the two siblings had since been released on bail but it suggested that investigations will continue while the “likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.”
Offenders Can Be Jailed for Maximum of 14 Years
Under the OSCO, a person is considered to have committed an offense “if he or she deals with any property knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that such property in whole or in part directly or indirectly represents any person’s proceeds of an indictable offence.”
Those found guilty of this offense face a maximum jail sentence of 14 years plus a fine of $5 million, while the proceeds of their activities will be forfeited to the state, the statement said. Tags in this story anti-money laundering laws, Cryptocurrency Exchange, cryptocurrency exchange trading platform, hong kong crypto regulation, hong kong cryptocurrency, Hong Kong Customs, Money Laundering, Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance, Regulation, virtual banks
What are your thoughts on this story? Tell us what you think in the comments section below. Terence Zimwara
Terence Zimwara is a Zimbabwe award-winning journalist, author and writer. He has written extensively about the economic troubles of some African countries as well as how digital currencies can provide Africans with an escape route. US Senator on Crypto: We Need Real Solutions to Make the Financial System Work for Everyone, Not Just the Wealthy REGULATION | 7 hours ago India"s Central Bank RBI Discusses Digital Currency and CBDC Launch With Minimal Impact on Monetary Policy REGULATION | 15 hours ago
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