Ex-ANZ employee among suspects in huge money-laundering ring
A former ANZ employee is among seven people accused of running Australia’s biggest money-laundering ring and faces life in jail if convicted, as former Howard government minister Gary Hardgrave said he had been left “shocked and duped” for backing the business.
The currency-changing business at the centre of the case and which had transferred more than $10 billion had its licence revoked on Thursday, and customers of at least one of the 12 Changjiang Currency Exchange shops across the country – Swanston Street in Melbourne – were met with a closed sign.
AFP officers arrest a man in Melbourne’s Glen Iris believed to be former ANZ employee Ding Wang. Australian Federal Police
More than $60 million in luxury property and cars were restrained from the syndicate known as Long River, whose members are accused of laundering almost $229 million from the proceeds of crime.
Six of the accused ringleaders appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court yesterday. They included Ding Wang, 40, of Glen Iris, Melbourne, whom The Australian Financial Review can reveal was a former ANZ employee. Sources within the bank confirmed Mr Wang had worked there but said he left in about 2016.
About 15 people were in court and watched Mr Wang brought into the dock; defence barrister Rishi Nathwani, SC, said it was Mr Wang’s first time in custody.
Other accused ringleaders to appear in court on Thursday included married Kew couple Jin Zhu and Ye Qu, both aged 35, who are parents, the court heard. Another was Ji Lu, 28, who also has a child at home who was being cared for by her grandmother, the court heard.
The court heard that Balwyn North man Fei Duan, 37, had very limited English and spoke predominantly Mandarin; co-accused Jin Wang, 33, of
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