Police this morning arrested an alleged former triad boss known as “Shanghai Boy” on suspicion of laundering more than HK$100 million (US$12.8 million), according to reports.
Kwok Wing-hung, reported to be the former leader of the Wo Shing Wo triad society, was detained by narcotics officers at a flat in Repulse Bay about 7am, according to OnTV.
The 59-year-old was later filmed sitting with officers in the back of an unmarked police car and has been transferred to police headquarters in Wan Chai, it was reported.
Kwok is suspected of using four local bank accounts to launder money between 2007 and 2012, according to RTHK.
The arrest was the result of an in-depth investigation and may lead to more arrests, the outlet reported.
The SCMP quoted an anonymous police source who said the allegedly laundered money came from illegal bookmaking.
It added that as of 3pm, he was still detained but had not been charged.
“Shanghai Boy” hit the headlines in 2012 when he allegedly attended a dinner with aides of former chief executive CY Leung, who was running for the chief executive post at the time.
The former city leader and his representatives denied knowledge of who Kwok was and said he was not intentionally invited to the dinner. A probe into the matter by the city’s anti-graft agency was dropped.
Kwok was among 130 people arrested in a 2012 anti-triad crackdown but was released unconditionally in 2015, according to the SCMP.
In July last year, he was arrested for criminal intimidation, conspiracy to wound with intent and conspiracy to blackmail after he returned to Hong Kong from Thailand.
