Melbourne properties seized as police probe Chinese crime links
Property worth more than $17 million, including a super-sized mansion in Mont Albert, has been seized from Chinese nationals who police allege were laundering money through Australia.
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Property worth more than $17 million, including a super-sized mansion in suburban Melbourne, has been seized from Chinese nationals who police allege were laundering money through Australia.
The new mega-mansion at Mont Albert, three units and a townhouse at Box Hill North, a commercial property in Blackburn and a large swath of farmland in Tasmania have been restrained by the Australian Federal Police.
It is alleged the properties, worth about $17.3 million, were bought by two Chinese nationals using proceeds of crimes said to have been committed in China.
The police launched the investigation at the request of China’s Ministry of Public Security, which is targeting Chinese nationals accused of laundering proceeds of crime money offshore.
A three-storey home in Victoria Crescent, Mont Albert, is among the properties restrained by Australian Federal Police. Estimated to be worth $4-5 million, it is 1393.5sq m, with a basement garage and a lift.
The AFP investigation — Operation Gethen — brings the total amount of restrained assets to about $50 million since police signed an agreement in 2017 with the Chinese Ministry of Public Security.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said the investigation was a strong example of Australia’s enforcement agencies working with international partners to take the profit out of organised crime.
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“Money laundering is not a victimless crime. It is everyday Australians who ultimately suffer when these significant proceeds of crime make their way into our country,’’ he said. “This outcome sends a clear message to those who think they can evade foreign governments and law enforcement agencies: Australia is not open for business to organised criminal groups.”
Operation Gethen was launched in 2017 when China asked Australia to help identify two Chinese nationals suspected of laundering proceeds of crime. Chinese authorities believe the money was raised through real estate and bank loan fraud in China, and that $23 million has been moved offshore since 2012.
Investigations are continuing.