Chinese National Jailed for Possession of Crime Proceeds

Chinese national, Yin Qing Qing, has been sentenced to 10 months in prison by a Fijian court after pleading guilty to possessing property suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Qing Qing was arrested last year and initially faced charges related to the unlawful possession of 42.95 grams of methamphetamine along with a co-accused, Joshua Ravula.

However, due to insufficient evidence on the drug charges, the state amended the charges to focus solely on the possession of crime proceeds.

The Suva Magistrate’s Court heard that Qing Qing had entered Fiji and shortly after committed the offense, showing a disregard for local laws. Magistrate Sufia Hamza set an initial sentencing benchmark of 18 months but reduced it to 14 months due to Qing Qing’s early guilty plea and time already spent in custody.

Ultimately, she will serve 10 months in jail.

She was reportedly arrested at the Yue Lai Hotel in Suva, which was also the location where she was found with the suspected proceeds of crime.

Magistrate Hamza emphasized that offenses involving proceeds of crime are serious due to their connection to drug-related activities and require deterrent sentences.

Qing Qing has been given 28 days to appeal the sentence.