Top court gets tough on money laundering

A new interpretation issued by China's highest court increases the burden on those defending themselves against money laundering allegations and clarifies what is needed to establish prima facie evidence of the knowledge element of the crime.

The Supreme People's Court issued its Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning Specific Application of the Law in Trials of Criminal Cases Such as Money Laundering (最高人民法院关于审理洗钱等刑事案件具体应用法律若干问题的解释) on November 4 2009; it took effect on November 11.