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Zhimin Qian, the alleged mastermind behind the cryptocurrency laundering, dreamed of being anointed as a Buddhist goddess by the Dalai Lama. Qian also had plans to build a Buddhist temple, an airport, and a port in Danube, a fictitious micronation situated between Serbia and Croatia.
Zhimin Qian’s Digital Diary
Zhimin Qian, the alleged mastermind behind a crypto laundering scheme, reportedly aspired to be anointed the “Reincarnated Goddess” by the Dalai Lama. Qian, who is reported to have used several aliases to evade law enforcement agencies, dreamt of building a Buddhist temple in Danube, an imaginary micronation 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 unusual aspirations, Qian led a miserable life, which she mostly spent in bed, her protégé told the court.
“She had bad dreams and woke up screaming at night. She was in bed the whole time. How would you think she had a different name?” Wen reportedly asked.
Whereabouts of Zhimin Qian Remain Unknown
As reported by Bitcoin.com News, a U.K. court has since convicted Wen for entering into a “money laundering arrangement.” Wen allegedly liquidated Qian’s bitcoins and used the proceeds to acquire physical assets such as expensive houses and jewelry as part of the arrangement.
Following the seizure of the BTC, Qian, who has not been arrested by U.K. law enforcement, had her passport confiscated. However, after making the “operational decision” not to arrest Qian or Wen, the U.K. police eventually returned the travel document in March 2019. Qian has not been seen since her last encounter with U.K. police.
Meanwhile, the Financial Times reported that the Crown Prosecution Service has begun civil recovery proceedings at the High Court. The report added that in many instances, half of the forfeited funds will go to the police. The remaining half will go to the Home Office if no one else is entitled to the assets.
What do you think of the alleged crypto laundering mastermind’s “eccentric” ambitions? Share your opinions in the comments section below.