The investigation established that in 2017, Zhimin fled China using a fake passport. She was accused of creating a large-scale financial pyramid, presenting her company "Lantian Gerui" as an organization engaged in mining and the development of medical technologies. More than 100,000 investors were affected, with total losses exceeding 40 billion yuan (about 4.2 billion pounds sterling).
During a search conducted at her residence in the Hampstead area, police discovered hard drives and laptops containing tens of thousands of bitcoins, marking one of the largest cryptocurrency seizures in British history.
The prosecution claims that while in London, Zhimin used investors' funds to maintain a luxurious lifestyle, including renting a mansion costing over 17,000 pounds a month. She posed as a wealthy heiress and antique collector, hiring a former restaurant worker for this purpose.
In Zhimin's personal records, grand plans were noted, such as creating an international bank, purchasing a Swedish castle, and the ambition to become the "queen of Liberland," an unrecognized state on the border of Croatia and Serbia.
The investigation was initiated after Zhimin attempted to buy a house in London when she could not explain the origin of her funds. Compensation for the victims may be paid from the confiscated assets.
The Crown Prosecution Service is considering establishing a special compensation scheme for those who will not be represented in the civil proceedings scheduled for next year.
