Suspected money launderer won’t be charged, special prosecutor rules

Despite “highly suspicious” conduct and an illegal money services business, a Richmond man will not face criminal charges, a special prosecutor has decided.

Lawyer Chris Considine released a “clear statement” Wednesday about why he believes no charges should be laid against Paul King Jin, who is the subject of several civil forfeiture lawsuits filed by the B.C. government.

Jin survived a 2020 shooting that left his associate Jian Jun Zhu dead. Both had been linked to an earlier money laundering investigation called E-Pirate that led to charges against Zhu, which were later stayed.

Considine said that there was no substantial likelihood of conviction against Jin in part because of ambiguous language in the federal Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, which he said should be amended.

Money-laundering cases usually involve proving the cash being laundered has a criminal origin — not just that it was handled by an unlicensed business, he said. He said the law may need to be amended if operation of an unlicensed business was to be considered a money-laundering offence.