Last year, Customs carried out operation code-named "Spark", which smashed a currency exchange shop suspected of laundering money and arrested four people including the suspected group leader and the compliance officer of the currency exchange shop. The compliance officer opened shell companies and banks through account, handling approximately HK$600 million in suspected criminal proceeds. After the operation, customs officers conducted an in-depth follow-up investigation. Through analysis of capital flows and evidence collection, they found that the compliance officer involved also controlled the shell companies and bank accounts opened by the other two arrested persons in the case. Carry out money laundering activities, and a bank employee colludes with criminal groups to help shell companies open accounts and "teach the way" how to circumvent bank scrutiny, suspected of assisting money laundering.
From yesterday (15th) to today (16th), the Customs Wealth Investigation Bureau carried out operation code-named "Spark II", raided 5 residential units and 1 commercial unit, and arrested 3 local men on suspicion of "money laundering". Including two former company directors and a bank employee, the compliance officer and the suspected group leader were re-arrested for further investigation. The five arrested persons (aged 34 to 71) have been released on bail pending further investigation.
Investigators said that according to preliminary investigations, from August 2020 to October 2023, the two arrested persons were instructed to open two shell companies and open a total of 23 accounts in 6 local banks. When opening accounts, the two companies reported that they were engaged in mobile programming and information technology businesses. However, since their establishment, they did not have any business addresses that could be verified, and their tax records did not report any income.
During the incident, the two arrested persons, as directors of the company, respectively reported that they were employees and part-time security guards of the currency exchange shop involved in the case. However, the transaction amount of the two companies reached HK$1.6 billion in three years and recorded more than 4,000 A suspicious transaction involving more than 400 persons was obviously not commensurate with the financial background of the relevant persons and the company. In addition, the transaction pattern of the account involved is extremely unusual. Once the funds arrive in the account, they will be transferred out on the same day or within a few days. The maximum number of transactions in a single day reaches 32; the maximum amount of deposits in a single day is as high as HK$48 million; The maximum amount of the account reached HK$52 million.
The investigation also found that the relevant bank transactions were not conducted by the holders of the corporate accounts, but were instead operated behind the scenes by the compliance officer arrested in the case. On the other hand, a bank customer service manager colluded with the compliance officer to help the shell company open an account in a local bank. It was suspected that someone had "brought water" to the compliance officer and taught him how to handle company records in order to Comply with the bank's account opening review and remind him how to respond to the bank's review of suspicious transactions.
During the operation, the Customs seized the mobile phones of many arrested persons. The Customs is still investigating the source of the unidentified funds. It will investigate the background of the arrested persons, the flow of funds and other aspects. More details cannot be ruled out. Many people were arrested. In addition, regarding the involvement of bank employees in the case, the Customs has notified the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. If necessary, the Customs will cooperate with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to follow up.
Original URL:on.cc
