Jewellery shop owner charged with laundering 53 million kroner through gold smuggling
The owner of a jewellery shop is charged with laundering 53 million kroner over three years. The case is being tried at Copenhagen City Court.
Gold travelled back and forth – now the court must rule on the money-laundering charge
The owner of a jewellery shop denies guilt in the laundering of 53 million kroner, but the prosecution believes that his repeated trips with gold in his luggage were part of a criminal scheme. This is reported by B.T. in connection with the case opening on Monday at Copenhagen City Court.
The defendant was arrested on 14 August last year at Copenhagen Airport in Kastrup by officers from the National Unit for Serious Crime (NSK). Investigators had identified a pattern that, according to the charge sheet, extended over more than three years.
The method followed a fixed scheme: cash of criminal origin was exchanged for, among other things, gold, which was subsequently melted down and taken out of the country. Abroad, the gold was converted to gold of a different carat and then flown back to Denmark. According to the NSK, the purpose was to conceal the illegal origin of the money.
The case is being tried over seven court hearings. If the court follows the prosecution's demand, the defendant faces imprisonment as well as confiscation of watches and jewellery. Additionally, a claim has been made against the shop regarding seizure of 49 kilograms of gold in the form of gold bars and jewellery.
The defendant has denied guilt.
Source: B.T.