Chinese restaurant owner jailed over money laundering

The owner of one of the largest Chinese restaurants in South Wales has been sent to prison after he failed to comply with the terms of an assets confiscation order.

Kin Kwan Chan, 42, and Carina Chan, 32, of the Happy Gathering restaurant in Canton, Cardiff had admitted a series of money laundering charges in 2007.

Evidence was given that the restaurant had been used to divert money illegally into bank accounts in Hong Kong and the UK.

The couple were given suspended jail terms on the condition they repay £1.5m.

Cardiff magistrates were told that Mrs Chan had repaid her portion but that Mr Chan had not.

The sentence was then activated by the court and Mr Chan was jailed for three years and three months.

Speaking after the case, the head of the regional asset recovery team for Wales, Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Dodd, said:

"In this case Mr Chan was given many opportunities and a significant period of time to satisfy the order, a view the court agreed with. Prison is a proper consequence for those who fail to pay court orders.

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By Andrew Smith

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