Zhimin Qian, the alleged mastermind behind a cryptocurrency laundering scheme, had big plans. Not only did she aspire to be anointed as a Buddhist goddess by the Dalai Lama, but she also wanted to build a Buddhist temple, an airport, and a port in Danube, a fictitious micronation situated between Serbia and Croatia.
According to a report by the Financial Times, Qian, who is accused of fraud, had ambitious plans that included constructing an airport, port, and a $5 million crown. Described as eccentric, Qian’s aspirations to become a Buddhist goddess are detailed in a digital diary seized by U.K. police. The police recovered the diary and a device containing more than 61,000 bitcoins (BTC) after raiding a home in Hampstead where Qian and her protégé, Jian Wen, were staying.
Despite her grandiose aspirations, Qian led a miserable life, spending most of her time in bed, according to her protégé, Jian Wen.
Wen was convicted by a U.K. court for entering into a “money laundering arrangement” with Qian, liquidating her bitcoins and using the proceeds to acquire physical assets such as expensive houses and jewelry.
Following the seizure of the BTC, Qian, who has not been arrested by U.K. law enforcement, had her passport confiscated. However, the U.K. police eventually returned the travel document in March 2019, and Qian has not been seen since.
The Crown Prosecution Service has begun civil recovery proceedings at the High Court, and in many instances, half of the forfeited funds will go to the police, while the remaining half will go to the Home Office if no one else is entitled to the assets.
Qian’s eccentric aspirations and alleged criminal activities have captured the attention of the public, raising questions about the intersection of cryptocurrency and criminal activity. As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen how Qian’s dreams of becoming a Buddhist goddess will play out in the courts.
BitminerFactory is brought to life by Darrell Houghton, our astute publisher. With a deep-rooted passion for crypto and crypto mining spanning many years, Darrell’s unwavering enthusiasm fuels his daily quest for knowledge. He is eager to share the pivotal news stories of the day while also providing his own analysis and commentary with Bitminer Factory’s readers.
Source: Bitcoin.com
