Macau casino operator and assistant laundered money for US undercover agent
2000-6-9
A director and a chairman of a company, who offered to launder US$250,000 (HK$2 million) for an US undercover agent, were convicted at the District Court today (Friday).
Judge Wright adjourned the case until tomorrow for mitigations. The two defendants were remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
Wong Ping-shui, 36, and Leung Chung, 48, respectively director and chairman of Sinorich Holdings Limited, were found guilty of a joint charge of conspiring with Chu Hak-lan to deal with property, knowing that it represented the proceeds of an indictable offence between December 1, 1998 and March 4 last year. Leung was also an operator of casinos in Macau and the US, while Wong was his assistant.
This case was triggered by information received by the ICAC that Wong and Leung might have bribed a bank manager to harbour their money laundering activities.
The court heard that between November and December 1998, an ICAC informant known as "Richard ” asked Chu, then Senior Inspector of the Customs and Excise Department, if Chu had any means to launder the proceeds of illegal activities for a friend in Russia.
Chu contacted Wong, who then asked Leung for assistance.
At a series of meetings, they discussed how the money would be laundered through casinos or companies operated by Leung, and the commission to be charged by Leung.
To further its investigation, the ICAC arranged for a Russian speaking person known as "Arkadiy", who was a Federal agent of the Treasury Department of the US Government, to participate in an undercover operation, acting as Richard's boss in Russia.
On February 18 last year, Richard introduced Chu to Arkadiy who posed as a representative of a Russian organised crime group.
Richard suggested to start with a small transaction first but the money to be laundered would be gradually increased to US$1,000,000.
On February 25 last year, Wong, Chu, Richard and Arkadiy went to a bank at Shun Tak Centre to conduct the first laundering transaction involving US$20,000.
After deducting a commission of nine per cent, Wong deposited US$18,200 into the account of a company operated by Leung, and applied for a demand draft for the same amount for Richard.
From the commission obtained from this transaction, Chu shared US$720 and US$300 was given to Richard.
Wong, Leung and Chu were arrested by ICAC officers in March last year while they were discussing further means to launder US$250,000 through a Macau casino and a casino in Los Angeles. At the meeting, Wong again indicated that he had the assistance of a bank officer.
Chu, 40, was jailed in May last year for helping a Russian businessman acquire Brazilian passports by unlawful means and launder illegal proceeds.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Kevin Zervos, assisted by ICAC officer Rebecca Li.
Judge Wright adjourned the case until tomorrow for mitigations. The two defendants were remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
Wong Ping-shui, 36, and Leung Chung, 48, respectively director and chairman of Sinorich Holdings Limited, were found guilty of a joint charge of conspiring with Chu Hak-lan to deal with property, knowing that it represented the proceeds of an indictable offence between December 1, 1998 and March 4 last year. Leung was also an operator of casinos in Macau and the US, while Wong was his assistant.
This case was triggered by information received by the ICAC that Wong and Leung might have bribed a bank manager to harbour their money laundering activities.
The court heard that between November and December 1998, an ICAC informant known as "Richard ” asked Chu, then Senior Inspector of the Customs and Excise Department, if Chu had any means to launder the proceeds of illegal activities for a friend in Russia.
Chu contacted Wong, who then asked Leung for assistance.
At a series of meetings, they discussed how the money would be laundered through casinos or companies operated by Leung, and the commission to be charged by Leung.
To further its investigation, the ICAC arranged for a Russian speaking person known as "Arkadiy", who was a Federal agent of the Treasury Department of the US Government, to participate in an undercover operation, acting as Richard's boss in Russia.
On February 18 last year, Richard introduced Chu to Arkadiy who posed as a representative of a Russian organised crime group.
Richard suggested to start with a small transaction first but the money to be laundered would be gradually increased to US$1,000,000.
On February 25 last year, Wong, Chu, Richard and Arkadiy went to a bank at Shun Tak Centre to conduct the first laundering transaction involving US$20,000.
After deducting a commission of nine per cent, Wong deposited US$18,200 into the account of a company operated by Leung, and applied for a demand draft for the same amount for Richard.
From the commission obtained from this transaction, Chu shared US$720 and US$300 was given to Richard.
Wong, Leung and Chu were arrested by ICAC officers in March last year while they were discussing further means to launder US$250,000 through a Macau casino and a casino in Los Angeles. At the meeting, Wong again indicated that he had the assistance of a bank officer.
Chu, 40, was jailed in May last year for helping a Russian businessman acquire Brazilian passports by unlawful means and launder illegal proceeds.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Kevin Zervos, assisted by ICAC officer Rebecca Li.