China Frozen Bank Account Controversy: Affected Clients Injured During Protests, Nearly $6 Billion Missing

China Frozen Bank Account Controversy: Affected Clients Injured During Protests, Nearly $6 Billion Missing

Some Chinese bank clients, whose accounts were frozen in April, were injured while staging a protest at the Zhengzhou branch offices of the country’s central bank. Reports from local media outlets suggest that as much as $6 billion in client funds is missing and the individual believed to be behind the disappearance is now outside China. Internal Systems Upgrade

Chinese residents protesting the freezing of their accounts by three banks in Zhengzhou, are reported to have stormed the branch offices of the central bank on Sunday, July 10. Reports say some of the protestors were injured when Chinese law enforcement agents used heavy-handed tactics to disperse the angry mob.

As per various media reports, when the banks initially froze the accounts in April, clients were informed this was done in order to facilitate the process of “upgrading” the institutions’ internal systems. However, more than two months later, the accounts that reportedly held nearly $6 billion (40 billion yuan) are still frozen and the banks have not updated clients about the status of the so-called systems upgrades. 400,000 Clients Affected

In mid-June, one Chinese media outlet said the funds belonging to over 400,000 clients had disappeared. The media outlet added that a so-called “ministerial-level official” had been involved in the case, while one Twitter user named Anderson Copper identified Lu Yi as the “white glove business snake” that stole the funds. According to the Twitter user, Yi has since left the country and is now in the U.S.

The banks’ continued silence as well as authorities’ reported use of China’s Covid-19 health codes to block 1,000 clients’ attempts to withdraw back in June, have lent credence to claims the funds were stolen.

The state-run Global Times has previously said the three banks — Yuzhou Xinminsheng Village Bank, Shangcai Huimin Country Bank, and the Zhecheng Huanghuai Community Bank — face a probe that relates to their “illegal fundraising” activities.

Meanwhile, in one of the videos shared on Twitter, some angry protestors are seen throwing what appear to be water bottles. Others are seen shoving and making their way towards the entrance of what has been identified as the central bank’s Zhengzhou branch offices. Tags in this story Account freeze, Bank run China, Central Bank, China, China’s Covid-19 policies, Law Enforcement

What are your thoughts on this story? Let us know what you think in the comments section below. Terence Zimwara

Terence Zimwara is a Zimbabwe award-winning journalist, author and writer. He has written extensively about the economic troubles of some African countries as well as how digital currencies can provide Africans with an escape route. Bitcoin Skeptic Peter Schiff Will Sell Troubled Euro Pacific Bank for BTC if Regulators Let Him FEATURED | 1 day ago Tesla CEO Elon Musk Officially Terminates $44 Billion Twitter Deal — Twitter Threatens Lawsuit FEATURED | 3 days ago

Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons Previous articleHow a Presale Ethereum Wallet Containing 1000 ETH Was Recovered by KeychainX Next article100-Year-Old Pennsylvania-Based Bank Approved to Leverage Makerdao’s Stablecoin Vault Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article. Read disclaimerShow comments More Popular NewsIn Case You Missed ItBill ‘On Digital Currency’ Caps Crypto Investments for Russians, Opens Door for Payments

Russia’s recently revised bill “On Digital Currency” limits crypto purchases for non-qualified investors while providing legal ground for some cryptocurrency payments, according to local media. The draft law, proposed by the Russian finance ministry, also introduces strict requirements for platforms ... read more.UAE Airliner Emirates to Launch NFTs and Experiences in the Metaverse Australia to List Bitcoin ETF After 4 Clearinghouse Participants Commit to Meet Stringent Margin Terms Digital Ruble ‘Much Needed,’ Russia’s Central Bank Says, Won’t Delay Testing Terra"s Algorithmic Dollar-Pegged Crypto UST Is Now the Third-Largest Stablecoin