Police arrest 21 linked to syndicate over luring domestic workers to open bank accounts, launder over HK$70 million
Hong Kong Free Press
Hong Kong police have arrested 21 people allegedly linked to a syndicate led by gang members who recruited domestic workers to launder more than HK$70 million via virtual bank accounts.
Police raided multiple employment agencies and residential units on Tuesday and Wednesday, arresting nine Hongkongers and 12 women from the Philippines and Indonesia for allegedly laundering a total of HK$74 million in two years.
The arrestees, aged 28 to 51, included six gang members, two people in charge of employment agencies and 11 bank account holders, the police told the press on Thursday afternoon.
They are suspected of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. All have been granted bail awaiting further investigation.
See also: Indonesian domestic workers among 20 arrested in Hong Kong over alleged money laundering
Lo Chun-kong, senior inspector of the technology and financial crime unit of New Territories North Regional Headquarters, said that the police had identified two key triad members who worked at two employment agencies.
The two gang members lured domestic helpers to open virtual bank accounts in exchange for money or second-hand mobile phones, Lo said.
“If domestic helpers agree to open a bank account, the gang members will meet them in parks, canteens or even employment agencies to open bank accounts,” Lo said in Cantonese.
“They will assist domestic helpers to fill in personal information, set up usernames and passwords to log into the accounts online. Once they open an account, it will be controlled by the gang members to launder the criminal proceeds,” he added.
“The two leading gang members also used their personal bank accounts to launder money.”
According to police, the syndicate used eight local personal accounts and 11 bank accounts of domestic helpers to launder HK$74 million – believed to be illegal gambling proceeds – from February 2022 to June 2024.
Police seized HK$150,000 in cash, 17 bank cards, four luxury watches, 26 mobile phones, and five computers. They are still investigating the whereabouts of the money laundered, according to police.
Upon conviction, the maximum penalty for money laundering is a 14-year jail sentence and a fine of HK$5 million.
“We’ve seen domestic helpers approached by criminal group to open online virtual bank accounts to launder criminal proceeds in this case,” Lo said. “This is a trend we should pay attention to.”
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