Richard Hape

The British Columbia Securities Commission has scheduled a hearing for December 10 11, 2002 to consider applications to vary asset freeze orders relating to accounts at the Bank of Montreal in Vancouver that were frozen in 2000 as part of

Businessman Richard Hape has been convicted of two counts of money laundering involving offshore companies he established in the Turks & Caicos Islands, where he worked and lived.The 54-year-old Canadian national faces up to ten years in prison and is currently out on bail pending sentencing.

Canadian businessman Richard Hape, 51, who is a Senior Executive of Turks & Caicos Islands-based British West Indies Trust Limited, was arrested in Canada on February 16 and charged with conspiracy to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking.Simultaneous with Hape's arrest in Ontario, the Royal Turks & Caicos Islands Police executed a search warrant at the offices of British West Indies Trust Limited and a restraining order was served on the Trust's employees and banks.