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| £1.5m bill for restaurant owners | £1.5m bill for restaurant owners |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The owners of a popular Chinese restaurant in Cardiff have been ordered to repay £1.5m after being convicted of money laundering. | The owners of a popular Chinese restaurant in Cardiff have been ordered to repay £1.5m after being convicted of money laundering. |
| Kin Chan, 42, and his wife Carina, 32, who run the Happy Gathering restaurant in Canton, also face jail if the money is not paid within 12 months. | Kin Chan, 42, and his wife Carina, 32, who run the Happy Gathering restaurant in Canton, also face jail if the money is not paid within 12 months. |
| The couple admitted money laundering in April 2005 and had been the subject of a two-year investigation. | The couple admitted money laundering in April 2005 and had been the subject of a two-year investigation. |
| The confiscation of assets order was made by a judge at Cardiff Crown Court. | The confiscation of assets order was made by a judge at Cardiff Crown Court. |
| Chan was ordered to repay £1.2m and his wife £300,000, after the investigation into their assets by the South Wales regional asset recovery team after the pair admitted an offence under the Proceeds of Crime Act. | |
| These defendants have a criminal lifestyle and I am making an order requiring them to pay a specific amount Judge David Wynn Morgan | These defendants have a criminal lifestyle and I am making an order requiring them to pay a specific amount Judge David Wynn Morgan |
| After admitting laundering £128,000 two years ago, Chan had been jailed for six months and his wife was given a three-month suspended sentence. | After admitting laundering £128,000 two years ago, Chan had been jailed for six months and his wife was given a three-month suspended sentence. |
| The pair face now further jail terms if they fail to pay the £1.5m within 12 months - Chan for five years and his wife for two-and-a-half years. | The pair face now further jail terms if they fail to pay the £1.5m within 12 months - Chan for five years and his wife for two-and-a-half years. |
| The court heard the couple had suppressed the amount of takings at the restaurant they have run for 10 years, leading to tax evasion and non-payment of VAT. | The court heard the couple had suppressed the amount of takings at the restaurant they have run for 10 years, leading to tax evasion and non-payment of VAT. |
| The couple, who live with their two children in a £500,000 house in Llandaff, were said to have extensive property interests in Britain and Hong Kong. | The couple, who live with their two children in a £500,000 house in Llandaff, were said to have extensive property interests in Britain and Hong Kong. |
| The asset recovery team - comprising police, HM Revenue and Customs and Inland Revenue officials - followed a paper trail of 17 bank accounts and property transactions during the inquiry, the court was told. | The asset recovery team - comprising police, HM Revenue and Customs and Inland Revenue officials - followed a paper trail of 17 bank accounts and property transactions during the inquiry, the court was told. |
| 'Great vigour' | 'Great vigour' |
| Judge David Wynn Morgan said: "These defendants have a criminal lifestyle and I am making an order requiring them to pay a specific amount. | Judge David Wynn Morgan said: "These defendants have a criminal lifestyle and I am making an order requiring them to pay a specific amount. |
| "If they don't pay within 12 months they face prison and significant quantities of interest on the money outstanding. | "If they don't pay within 12 months they face prison and significant quantities of interest on the money outstanding. |
| "It is sufficient incentive for them to complete payment." | "It is sufficient incentive for them to complete payment." |
| After the case, Det Chief Ins Steve Tooby said: "It is not the intention to close down the restaurant where up to 20 people are employed. | After the case, Det Chief Ins Steve Tooby said: "It is not the intention to close down the restaurant where up to 20 people are employed. |
| "But this sends a message that money laundering will not be tolerated and we will pursue investigations with great vigour." | "But this sends a message that money laundering will not be tolerated and we will pursue investigations with great vigour." |