Hong Kong justice department says use of US crowdfunding site typical of money laundering
Appledaily, 03 June 2021
Ben Chung, one of the 47 democracy advocates charged with subversion, was denied bail for crowdfunding on an American platform, which the prosecution described as a typical pattern for money laundering.
Chung, the convenor of the Neo Democrats and a district councilor, was charged with “conspiracy to commit subversion” under the national security law for participating in an unofficial primary election for the Legislative Council last summer.
According to the written ruling released on Thursday, High Court judge Esther Toh refused his bail application as the 32-year-old set out the link for the public poll’s fundraising campaign on the American site GoGetFunding and was one of three signatories to operate the bank account for Power for Democracy, the organizer of the opposition primaries.
Senior public prosecutor Andy Lo alleged that the money received from the crowdfunding campaign would be transferred from the American bank account to Power for Democracy through a third party local bank account in Hong Kong. It is “a typical pattern of ‘layering’ in a case of money laundering to avoid detection by the police,” the prosecution further claimed.
Chung’s role in the group was described as “pivotal” and one of “great responsibility.” The prosecution noted that he provided his distinct council office as a polling station and announced on Facebook he had adopted enhanced security measures in response to police investigation. Lo also remarked on Chung’s “strong political connection and influence.”
