According to news reports, a Hong Kong man disguised himself as a tourist visiting Taiwan, suspected of being a money laundering accomplice for a fraud syndicate. He was found carrying 11 Taiwanese bank cards and had withdrawn nearly NT$200,000 in cash from convenience stores and banks. The suspect, dressed in a blue top, operated the ATM at a bank while looking around nervously, but was ultimately discovered by the police. When questioned by the police, he was found to possess Taiwanese-issued bank cards and was also carrying two mobile phones for reporting purposes. Preliminary investigations by the police indicated that the man posed as a tourist from Hong Kong and might have been used by a fraud syndicate as a tool for cross-border withdrawals, taking advantage of the convenient transportation from Hong Kong to Taiwan for money laundering.
The Post Office in Taiwan is the most preferred institution for money laundering by fraud syndicates
According to earlier news reports this year, data released by the Ministry of Justice indicated that the post office was the top institution used by fraud syndicates for money laundering last year. Among the photos of the bank cards held by the Hong Kong man released by the police, five cards appeared to be issued by the post office. The market share of postal accounts in Taiwan is as high as 16.1%. Notably, in the ranking of the most popular institutions for money laundering by fraud syndicates, five state-owned banks are included, such as Bank of Taiwan, First Commercial Bank, Chang Hwa Bank, and Taiwan Cooperative Bank, which are favored by fraud syndicates. According to Liberty Times, two bank employees, a couple at Bank of Taiwan, are suspected of colluding with fraud syndicates to launder money and then using the proceeds to purchase virtual currencies. There has been no further information on whether the two bank employees have been detained or sentenced.
The Hong Kong suspect was targeted by the police for speaking loudly in Cantonese
Reports indicate that a man surnamed Chung from Hong Kong, carrying 11 Taiwanese bank cards, was arrested after engaging in suspicious transfer activities. This man was reportedly speaking loudly in Cantonese in a convenience store in the Luchu District of Taoyuan, repeatedly operating the ATM, and then continued to withdraw large amounts at other financial institutions. His suspicious behavior caught the attention of patrolling police officers, who followed him and assessed that he might be an overseas accomplice. The man was completely unaware of the police trailing him and was arrested on the spot. After interrogation, he was transferred to legal proceedings under the “Anti-Money Laundering Act” and “Fraud Prevention Act.”
Crimes committed by Hong Kong individuals in Taiwan fall under Taiwan’s jurisdiction
Taiwan operates under the principle of “territoriality.” If a foreigner commits a crime in Taiwan, it has jurisdiction. However, there are many gray areas concerning individuals from Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China committing crimes in Taiwan. In the past, a Hong Kong man named Chen, who allegedly murdered his girlfriend while visiting Taiwan, escaped back to Hong Kong and became unmanageable, raising debates on whether he should be sent to Taiwan or mainland China for trial. According to past news reports, this man ultimately could not accept judicial proceedings in Taiwan.
After Hong Kong’s return to China, Taiwan and Hong Kong have developed different political stances
With the return of Hong Kong to China, Taiwan and Hong Kong have developed distinct political positions. Criminal acts by Hong Kong individuals in Taiwan have become a security concern for Taiwan. These Hong Kong individuals posing as tourists have become pawns exploited by fraud and crime syndicates. Sending these accomplices and suspects back to Hong Kong for trial complicates efforts by Taiwan’s intelligence agencies to identify upstream accomplices. In recent years, Hong Kong has also suffered under the rampant activities of fraud syndicates. The Hong Kong authorities are actively combating money laundering and sham accounts, discovering that many foreign individuals, elderly people, and students are particularly vulnerable to exploitation by fraud syndicates.
Fake tourism and real money laundering by Hong Kong and Macau accomplices remain unregulated
With local fraud rampant in Taiwan, there is a need to establish a firewall specifically targeting criminals operating in these gray areas. Taking this case as an example, the Hong Kong accomplice was targeted by the police while making withdrawals in Taoyuan. However, if his accent and behavior had not been recognized, it would have been difficult to apprehend him. The author also notes that the number of so-called “normal” tourists from Hong Kong and Macau is decreasing in Taiwan. In Ximending and Taipei Main Station, many tourists from mainland China, speaking with Fujian accents, can be seen sitting on the ground eating boxed lunches and chatting without luggage, not appearing to be tourists. Convenience stores often see Hong Kong tourists speaking Cantonese, busy on their phones checking the time, leaving one to wonder what business they are engaged in. While Taiwan’s tourism industry is struggling, there is hope for increased visits from Hong Kong and Macau residents; however, if they are all involved in criminal activities, it does not contribute to GDP and even worsens public safety, making it difficult to regulate. How can the Immigration Agency and prosecutorial units tailor regulations for these “tourist-type accomplices” engaging in real money laundering disguised as tourism? This is worth contemplating.
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