Cryptocurrency
4 Extra Arrests Made in JPEX Crypto Trade Probe, Complete Detentions Now at 18


In a latest improvement, police in Hong Kong and Macau have apprehended 4 extra people linked to the continued JPEX crypto alternate case, as reported by the South China Morning Post on Friday.
Of the 4 arrests, two came about in Hong Kong, whereas Macau Police made the remaining two. This brings the full variety of arrests in reference to the scandal to eighteen, together with a number of people believed to be carefully tied to the core operations.
These developments coincide with a warning issued by the Securities and Futures Fee (SFC) concerning one other unlicensed digital asset buying and selling platform, FUBT Trade, which is considered associated to JPEX. The fee said that the corporate offered a faux Hong Kong telephone quantity in an try and create the phantasm of a presence within the metropolis.
FUBT Trade was added to an inventory of suspicious digital asset buying and selling platforms by the SFC on September 22, as indicated on the fee’s web site. Subsequent checks counsel that the platform’s web site is not accessible,
Additional Arrests and Money Seizures Uncovered in JPEX Crypto Trade Probe
In line with the SCMP report, two 29-year-olds have been detained in Macau, the place authorities confiscated HK$6.5 million (US$830,390) in money and valuables. Moreover, HK$8.2 million has been frozen of their on line casino accounts. Macau police stated the 2 have been homeowners of cash-for-crypto outlets.
Hong Kong police made further arrests, detaining two 28-year-old males. Considered one of them, surnamed Tang, was found in an residence together with paperwork that appeared to have been shredded and handled with bleach in a bath.
Along with these findings, one other suspect surnamed Wong, was apprehended as authorities searched two residences that contained a considerable quantity of paperwork. Unauthorized Visa playing cards bearing the label “JPEX” have been additionally found in the course of the search.
These newest arrests have introduced the full variety of people detained in connection with the increasing JPEX case to 18, all of whom are residents of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Assistant Police Commissioner Chung Wing-man said that investigators are on the verge of figuring out a key determine within the operations of JPEX. Nevertheless, they at present have no idea whether or not the mastermind behind the fraud is a person or a part of a bunch.
Authorities additionally indicated that extra suspects are probably related to the case, with some believed to be situated exterior Hong Kong. They’re conscious of their whereabouts and are keen to collaborate with worldwide authorities to make sure their arrest.
Authorities Seize HK$24 Million in Property, Together with Crypto, within the Newest JPEX Crypto Trade Scandal Probe
Through the latest operation carried out in Hong Kong and Macau, authorities confiscated property amounting to a complete of HK$24 million in property, together with luxurious watches and gold bars.. These seized property included luxurious watches and gold bars.
The police power within the metropolis additional disclosed that they’d additionally confiscated cryptocurrency valued at HK$5 million related to JPEX. Nevertheless, monitoring down these digital property has confirmed difficult as a result of excessive quantity of transactions and their inherent anonymity.
The JPEX scandal unfolded earlier this month when the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Fee (SFC) accused the alternate of working with no license. Subsequently, regulatory authorities issued a public discover cautioning the folks of Hong Kong that the alternate lacked authorization to function within the nation.
A couple of days later, JPEX and its operators are suspected of defrauding over 2,400 folks of practically $200 million. The Hong Kong Police acquired reviews from greater than 2,417 people claiming losses totaling over 1.5 billion Hong Kong {dollars} ($191.6 million) on the platform.
Nevertheless, JPEX has voiced issues about what it perceives as unfair remedy by the regulators, fearing it may impede Hong Kong’s aspirations to turn into a crypto hub. JPEX, purportedly based mostly in Dubai, continues to function, albeit with restricted entry from Hong Kong, believed to be attributable to a directive from the police.
In response, the regulatory physique has launched a list of exchange firms which have utilized for a license underneath the brand new regulatory framework, which was applied in June.