The Latest Developments and Follow-up Actions Regarding the Victims of Investment Fraud Cases from 2014 to 2017

Case Progress Overview

From 2014 to 2017, a large-scale investment fraud was implemented by an electronic technology company in Tianjin, involving over 120,000 Chinese investors. The mastermind converted the proceeds of the scam into Bitcoin and fled to London. In 2018, the London police seized equipment containing at least 61,000 Bitcoins, setting a record for the largest cryptocurrency seizure case in the UK.

A person involved in the case was sentenced to 6 years and 8 months in prison for money laundering, and their related assets have been frozen and are undergoing civil recovery investigations. The main suspect was arrested in April 2024 and is currently in custody, with their trial scheduled to begin on September 29, 2025, at the Nanhua Criminal Court.

The UK authorities have implemented a property freeze on approximately 61,000 bitcoins according to the civil recovery framework. The prosecution has deferred the direct transfer of the assets to the treasury, providing victims with a window to file claims and request returns in court. If this opportunity is missed, it may become more difficult for individuals to recover their assets.

The UK side stated that it would consider international treaty obligations, but would generally not initiate inter-state asset disposal arrangements until the High Court has considered the claims of the victims.

Follow-up Action Plan

A certain law firm will collaborate with a UK partner law firm to undertake litigation for representative cases, aiming to secure the maximum benefits for the entire group of victims. During the litigation process, blockchain forensic analysis will be used to establish the victims' ownership claims over specific units of Bitcoin. At the same time, negotiations will be held with the UK Crown Prosecution Service to prevent the assets from being transferred to the treasury before the judgments in the representative cases.

Actions the victim needs to take

1. Register personal information immediately
2. Provide investment amount, timeline, recipient account information, transfer records, contracts, receipts, and communication records with the intermediary.
3. If a report has been filed, please provide the report receipt or number.
4. Incomplete information can be registered in advance, and a list of supplementary materials will be provided later.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Q: Can I register first if the materials are incomplete? A: Yes, you can register on the list first, and we will guide you to supplement the materials in batches later.

2. Q: Is it necessary to wait for the criminal case to conclude before taking action? A: Not necessarily. Civil compensation is already underway, and the prosecution has clearly provided a window period for the victims. The retrieval of case materials is usually based on the premise of not hindering the criminal proceedings.

3. Q: What is the form of asset return? A: Based on the court ruling, cash or Bitcoin may be considered.

4. Q: How to handle English materials and legal issues? A: The law firm can assist in preparing English materials.

5. Q: Is a prepayment required? A: No fees are required to be paid before successfully obtaining compensation. The law firm will initially cover the necessary costs and will charge a fee based on the negotiated ratio after success.

6. Q: Can I still seek help if I have signed with another law firm? A: Communication should take place after reviewing the signed commission agreement.

Please note that this article is only a legal guide based on publicly available information and does not constitute formal legal advice. For case assessment, please communicate directly with a professional lawyer.