Dirty money centre? Hong Kong in money laundering spotlight as suspected Russian drug lord and his former model lover probed
Australian criminal investigation under way over pair accused of illegally amassing millions in city
Hong Kong’s role as an international haven for laundering dirty cash has come under scrutiny for the second time in a week as an Australian crime agency investigation into the business dealings of a suspected Russian drug lord and his former model lover.
Australian officials suspect Vadim Volkov, 33, and ex-girlfriend Lauren Bryant, 27, of illegally amassing a multi-million dollar stash of cash through questionable business ventures in Hong Kong and Australia.
The pair was said to have funded a lavish lifestyle on holidays to Singapore and Hong Kong featuring luxury hotels and champagne, according to media reports over the weekend.
The allegations followed revelations that 90 per cent of the US$1.8 billion that convicted French-Israeli conman Gilbert Chikli laundered went through Hong Kong and mainland banks. The FBI said that, of a list of 70 countries used for scam bank transfers, Hong Kong and China claimed the top two spots.
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Hong Kong police were unable to comment on claims by Volkov, Bryant and Chikli.