Overview
- Southwark Crown Court sentenced Qian to 11 years and eight months after she pleaded guilty in September to possessing and transferring criminal property.
- Police recovered more than 61,000 BTC, worth about £5 billion at current prices, in what they describe as the UK’s largest confirmed crypto seizure.
- UK investigators worked with Chinese authorities to trace the funds, and Qian was arrested in York in 2024 after years living under aliases across Europe.
- Two accomplices were jailed in related cases: Jian Wen received six years and eight months previously, and Seng Hok Ling was sentenced today to four years and 11 months.
- The CPS is pursuing civil recovery in the High Court, with more than 1,300 alleged victims reported to have come forward as legal debate continues over distribution of the assets.