A 22-year-old youth, suspected of using his personal account to launder money in 2019 and collecting HK$670,000 for others for the crime proceeds of selling counterfeit goods online, was convicted earlier and was arrested today (9th) in the Eastern District Magistrates' Court Sentenced to imprisonment for 9 months.
Hong Kong Customs welcomes the sentence, which has a considerable deterrent effect and fully reflects the seriousness of money laundering crimes.
A 22-year-old youth, suspected of using his personal account to launder money in 2019 and collecting HK$670,000 for others for the crime proceeds of selling counterfeit goods online, was convicted earlier and was arrested today (9th) in the Eastern District Magistrates' Court Sentenced to imprisonment for 9 months.
Hong Kong Customs welcomes the sentence, which has a considerable deterrent effect and fully reflects the seriousness of money laundering crimes.
(Photo by Zheng Jiahui)
In September 2020, Hong Kong Customs received a report that several victims suspected of buying counterfeit items online.
Customs based on the payment record provided by the victim.
In October of the same year, a 22-year-old man was arrested. After in-depth investigation, it was found that from September to December 2019, the arrested person used a personal account opened in a local bank to collect criminal proceeds from online sales of counterfeit goods for others. HK$670,000.
After the defendant received the criminal proceeds, he deducted the remuneration and transferred it to the bank account of an individual third party according to the instructions.
After collecting sufficient evidence, Hong Kong Customs charged the defendant under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance in June 2022 for "handling property known or believed to represent proceeds from an indictable crime" (commonly known as money laundering). )crime.
The Eastern District Magistrates' Court handed down the sentence today (9th), and the defendant was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment.
Hong Kong Customs welcomes the court's ruling and believes that the sentence has a deterrent effect, and the sentence of imprisonment also reflects the seriousness of money laundering crimes, providing a clear warning to lawbreakers.
Hong Kong Customs will continue to strictly enforce the law and will never be held accountable for money laundering activities.
The successful prosecution of this case is not only due to the hard work of the officers, but also depends on the victim in the case reporting to Customs, so that the officers can locate and arrest the defendant based on the clues provided by the victim.
Under the Ordinance, any person who knows or has reasonable grounds to believe that any property, whether in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, represents any person's proceeds of an indictable offence, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, the maximum penalty is a fine of $5 million and imprisonment for 14 years, and the proceeds of the crime may also be confiscated.
Members of the public may report suspected involvement in money laundering activities to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182, or through the dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
