Money launderer gets three years
Judge says illegal immigrant must have known cash was not legitimate and used false ID card
A mainland man living illegally in Hong Kong has been jailed for three years and nine months for laundering HK$6 million for a firm that hired him purportedly to buy groceries and play computer games.
Su Ying, 38, earlier pleaded not guilty to one count of money laundering. He said he was following orders in 2011 when he went to deposit the money and was unaware the cash might be related to an indictable offence.
A co-defendant, Chew Kun-yick, 78, was acquitted as there was insufficient evidence to prove he knew he was taking part in a scam.
Deputy Judge So Wai-tak said he found it hard to believe a company would entrust HK$6 million in cash to an employee like Su.
"Obviously, [Su] was employed as a tool for money laundering," the judge said in the District Court yesterday.
So said Su must have known the money came from illegal activity. He considered the fact the amount was significant and that Su had used a false identity card.