Richmond’s River Rock Casino has been engulfed in flames since September this year, when British Columbia’s newly-elected government made public a 2016 casino report that had been swept under the carpet by the previous government. The report revealed details regarding suspicious transactions that took place at River Rock Casino Resort in July 2015. David Eby, the new B.C. Attorney General, embarked on a money laundering hunt, determined to find out who stays behind the whole criminal organization and take punitive measures against the wrongdoers.
Paul King Jin is the main suspect in BC’s money-laundering probe, but charges are not laid against him at this moment. Reports claim that the owner of a Richmond mansion, supposedly used for illicit practices, is the former director of a Richmond spa resort run by Paul Jin. The suspect denied any allegations, saying that he was unaware of the misuse of the property. According to civil forfeiture documents, the $4.9 million Richmond mansion was most probably used for illegal gambling, money laundering practices, and kidnapping.
It emerged on the surface that Mr. Jin is, most probably, not the only one, who owns the aforementioned property. Documents allege that his sister also has a share in the mansion, which spreads over 13,000 square feet. The Ministry of Justice is currently aiming at forfeiting the property to the province.
Paul King Jin Allegedly Involved in Many Crimes
However, officials consider that Mr. Jin is the true owner of the property, while his sister is in the position of a nominee. The woman, on the other hand, refused to be aware of the fact that the property was used for illicit activities. According to her words, the property was rented out to Vancouver International Chinese Association for a period of 2 years. In a defence document, the woman alleges that “the property is not an instrument of unlawful activity” and it was used for business purposes.
The case is currently underway, but the allegations still remain unproven. Representatives from Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit BC (CFSEU) and the forfeiture office refused to answer reporters’ questions regarding the case.
Yesterday, the local news outlet Vancouver Sun reported that Postmedia’s review of civil forfeiture cases found out that Mr. Jin allegedly has connections with the Vancouver used auto dealer Lucky Eight Enterprises. The name of the latter appeared in about 10 motor vehicle crash claims. Mr. Eby appointed ICBC to investigate the car accidents.
According to B.C. Lottery Corp. documents, Mr. Jin conducted 50 large cash transactions in 2012. Apart from that, the reports claim that he worked with Silver International, a company used as an illegal an illicit banking network to loan suspected drug cash to high-rollers from Macau. Investigators claim that Jin’s alleged network is many-sided and elusive.
