Israeli pair jailed four years for role in Hong Kong gold-laundering scheme
Sentence must act as deterrent to protect city's image, judge tells men who were part of international plan to launder HK$150m
Two Israeli men were jailed for over four years on Thursday for what a judge called a sophisticated “international” plan to launder HK$150 million worth of gold bars and diamonds in Hong Kong.
They appeared calm in court room after hearing the sentence.
Judge Anthony Kwok Wai-on said a strong deterrent was necessary to protect Hong Kong’s reputation. “If money laundering is allowed to be carried out and treated lightly ... that would mar Hong Kong’s reputation as a world-class financial centre.
“A clear message must be sent by the court to other people in Israel and elsewhere,’’ the judge said.
“They should think carefully before they act,’’ he said, adding: “Now they [the two Israelis] have to face the consequences.”
The court had heard that Fadlon joined the Israel Defence Forces in 2002 and served in the anti-terrorist Duvdevan unit, an elite special forces unit noted for conducting undercover operations against militants in urban areas.