Hong Kong freezes $463 million of assets tied to Cambodia scam syndicate Prince Group
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The Prince Group is accused of operating large-scale online “scam centres” that used trafficked workers to defraud victims.
PHOTO: PRINCEGROUPKH/X
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HONG KONG – Hong Kong authorities said on Nov 4 that they had frozen assets worth HK$2.75 billion (S$463 million) linked to a criminal syndicate that local media reports identified as the Prince Group, run by sanctioned Chinese-Cambodian tycoon Chen Zhi.
Britain and the US in October sanctioned the multinational network
Chen, 38, was indicted by a US court on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.
Reuters was not able to reach Chen or a representative for comment.
The Hong Kong police said the asset freeze involved a syndicate suspected of involvement in international cross-border telecommunications fraud and money laundering activities, based on intelligence and information gathered from multiple sources.
“The frozen assets, including cash, stocks and funds held by individuals and corporate entities, are believed to be crime proceeds linked to the concerned syndicate,” the police said in a statement late on Nov 4 without specifying names.
The Hong Kong Financial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau was continuing with investigations, but no arrests had yet been made, the statement added.
At least 18 Hong Kong companies were blacklisted by the US in connection with the Prince Group. These included two listed companies – Khoon Group and Geotech Holdings.
Earlier on Nov 4, Taiwanese prosecutors said they had detained 25 people and seized NT$4.5 billion (S$190 million) in assets tied to the Prince Group – including 26 high-end cars, properties and bank accounts tied to the network and to Chen – in relation to money laundering and forced labour offences.
Singapore authorities also recently seized more than $150 million in assets linked to the Prince Group
The US Treasury Department said this was its largest action ever in South-east Asia, targeting 146 people within the Prince Group. Britain’s sanctions targeted six entities and six individuals, including Chen. REUTERS
