The Scottish Banker of Surabaya - By Ian Hamilton Page 0,106
what you’re trying to tell me.”
“I understand it’s a lot to wrap your head around. I had the same problem. Let me put things into context.”
“Please.”
“This bank in Indonesia was purchased six years ago, using a local law firm as the cover, by the ’Ndrangheta for the explicit purpose of laundering money. They shipped in cash and the banker took in the cash as equity, converted it to the local currency, and then loaned it out in some very specific markets — Rome, Caracas, New York, Toronto — to buy real estate. The loans went to companies, families, and friends who were associated with the ’Ndrangheta. The loans were completely phony, of course; nothing was ever repaid. The banker ran several sets of books to keep the Indonesian authorities satisfied, but the reality was that it was strictly cash in, cash out. The gang ends up owning a worldwide real estate empire bought with laundered money.”
“Holy shit.”
“It isn’t something that could be invented.”
“And let me guess,” Lafontaine said slowly. “Your client has a copy of the bank records.”
“He does indeed.”
“How much detail?”
“Every single transaction is recorded — who bought what, where, when, and for how much.”
“And you’re convinced the information is legit?”
“I’ve gone through it in detail with him. I’m confident it will stand up to any level of scrutiny.”
“So?”
“So?”
“Now he wants to sell the information.”
“Exactly,” Ava said.
“This is about as far off my watch, my expertise, my rank, as you could possibly get.”
“Let me clarify something right away,” Ava said. “My client has no interest in shopping this information around. He isn’t interested in getting into bids. He initially told us to stick to the countries that were directly involved, then thought better of that and forbade us from talking to the Italians, the Venezuelans, or the Indonesians. That left us with the Americans and Canadians. My partner didn’t feel that the Americans could keep their information sources secure. So, Marc, we’re talking to you, and you alone.”
“You mean you’re talking to me as a member of the RCMP?”
“That’s exactly what I mean. It starts and ends with you. If you feel that you can’t contact the force, or that you can’t fairly represent our position, then you and I will forget we ever had this conversation. My client will have to figure another way — without my being involved — to meet his future needs. Because, Marc, this is as far as I take it.”
“You want me to negotiate a deal with the force on your behalf?”
“I want you to open some doors for me and at least initiate discussions.”
“Under what pretext?”
“Pardon?”
“Why has a humble sergeant in a lonely outpost been chosen to be the messenger for this blockbuster deal?”
“Marc, this is the point where the trust we talked about earlier becomes paramount.”
“Meaning?”
“The client came to us because that’s how he wants all communication handled.”
“He won’t talk to anyone but you?”
“Yes.”
“They won’t like that.”
“We believe the information he has can speak for itself. They won’t need him.”
“That still doesn’t explain how I was brought into the loop. If I approach Ottawa — and I emphasize the if — they’re going to ask me why I was chosen to be the conduit.”
“About nine months ago you met a woman in Guyana named Jennie Kwong. She came to the High Commission for help, help that you provided. She remembered you. You’re the only Mountie she knows.”
“Jennie Kwong?”
“I have a Hong Kong passport in that name.”
“Ava Lee?”
“As of now, between you and me, and you and them, there is no Ava Lee. Only Jennie Kwong. If you can’t go with that, we can stop talking right now. What I need you to promise, regardless of what you decide to do, is that my real name will be kept entirely out of any conversation.”
“I gave you my word.”
“I know, and I’m sorry if I seem paranoid.”
“You’re really afraid of those Italians.”
“Absolutely.”
“So this Jennie Kwong contacts me on behalf of this Scottish banker and asks me to do what?”
“Help her get to first base — put her in contact with people who can start a decision-making process.”
“To buy the bank records?”
“Of course. That’s what it’s about from my client’s side.”
“Does he have a number in mind?”
“Thirty million U.S. dollars.”
“You have got to be joking!”
“Of course not. And let me say I think he’s being generous at that price. We’re talking about billions of dollars that have been illegally laundered and used to buy real estate. I’m quite sure that if the authorities in