Wing Hei Leung, Scholar restaurant owner sentenced for dealing in the proceeds of crime

A restaurant owner and “family man” has avoided a full time jail sentence for dealing with over $100k in cash linked to cannabis traffickers.

CANBERRA Scholar Chinese restaurant co-owner Wing Hei Leung leaves the ACT Law Courts on February 2. Leung was sentenced for dealing with property suspected of being the proceeds over crime and general dishonesty after police found him with over $150k in cash. Leung will serve two overlapping intensive corrections orders totalling 12 months. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

A “hard working” restaurant owner and “family man” who police caught with more than $150,000 in cash linked to a cannabis trafficking syndicate has learned his fate at the ACT Supreme Court.

Wing Hei Leung, the co-owner of The Scholar Chinese restaurant in the inner-north Canberra suburb of Dickson, previously pleaded guilty to dealing in property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime and general dishonesty.

According to the statement of agreed facts police raided Leung’s home in March 3, 2021, where they seized $153,600 in cash.

In a police interview on March 4, 2021, Leung used a fake name, “Duncan Leung”, and told officers the money came from his family, his business and from a $100,000 loan from his friend James Mussillon, the owner of Courgette Restaurant in Civic.

The Scholar Chinese restaurant co-owner Wing Hei Leung leaves the ACT Law Courts on February 2. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Court documents state in an interview with police Mussillon, who has since pleaded guilty to a raft of charges including money laundering, backed up Leung's claim and said he loaned $100,000 to a person named “Duncan”.

Mussillon said “Duncan” had told him the money was for his sick sister.

He told police the money he gave Leung came from a previous withdrawal of $350,000 he made in September 2020, yet police investigated the claim and found he did not make the withdrawal.

Police suspected the money was proceeds from an alleged cannabis trafficking syndicate involving Mohamed Al-Mofathel and Yang Fang.

Leung is the co-owner of the Scholar Chinese Restaurant in Dickson. Picture: Google Maps

Police allege on March 4, 2021, they raided the Yarralumla residence of Mr Fang where they found nine vacuum-sealed bags of dried cannabis weighing in at 39.28kg.

Mr Al-Mofathel has pleaded not guilty to charges including drug trafficking and money laundering, and will face trial later this year.

The court document goes into detail about intercepted calls between Mussillon and Mr Al-Mofathel which suggested a link between the alleged cannabis trafficking syndicate and the Courgette-Co owner.

This resulted in the arrests of Mussillon and Mr Al-Mofathel in August 2021, and the arrest of Leung in September 2021.

During the sentencing hearing on Tuesday Leung’s lawyer Katrina Musgrove described her client as a “hardworking businessman” and “family man” who had worked hard to build a life in Canberra since moving to Australia to study at the age of 20.

Lawyers for Leung described him as a hardworking businessman and family man. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

“He’s worked long hours to build and maintain his business,” Ms Musgrove said.

“He contributes to the Canberra community (he regularly donates) to charities.

“He spends time with his wife and children, gives money to his parents in Hong Kong.”

Ms Musgrove also told the court when Leung’s sister based interstate fell ill with Canberra, he footed the $5000 per month bill for her health care.

She said her client was otherwise of good character, and said Covid-19 lockdowns negatively impacted the business.

“(Leung) has expressed remorse, he feels ashamed, especially for wasting police resources,” Ms Musgrove said.

“(He feels) he brought dishonour to his family.

“He has taken steps to change his life, he wants to teach his children right and wrong.”

During the sentencing Ms Musgrove stated while her client was aware the money may have been illegally obtained, he didn’t know it was specifically

“What (crime) is nicer than Cannabis trafficking?”Acting Justice Peter Berman replied.

“It’s not as bad as a robbery or a burglary.”

Acting Justice Berman sentenced Leung to two intensive corrections orders, totalling 12 months.