*********************************
A 44-year-old expatriate female residing in Hong Kong was convicted for money laundering earlier and sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment at the Eastern Magistracy today (December 17).
The court heard that the female defendant made friends with a man claiming to be an American through an online social network. The man later asked the defendant to remit through her account US$58,800 to overseas. Despite feeling suspicious about the source of fund, the defendant still remitted the money and received HK$10,000 as reward. Police's investigation revealed the funds came from a US email scam occurred in end-2012.
Police reiterate that money laundering is a serious offence and appeal to the public to refrain from lending their accounts for any suspicious purposes. Anyone who lends his or her bank account to others for illegal purposes may contravene section 25 of Cap 455, "Dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence" under Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance and may be liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $5 million and 14 years' imprisonment.
Police also remind members of public to take due care when making friends on Internet and never accept inappropriate requests made by others.
Police Report No. 285
Ends/Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:06
NNNN
