Bro, correct me if I'm wrong.
Gold & silver traders back out there are buying back gold bullions and coins at apprx 20% discount. So whether selling at 20% higher or buying back at 20% lower is still 20% profit margin for these institutions. No?
And of course, hibah maybe the enticing factor. However, 19% (calculated in earlier comment) annual return recoup your earlier 20% higher purchase value. Well not exactly recoup but better than nothing and compare to other precious metal sellers which straight forward buying and selling bullions and coins.
Genneva also give option to sell to 3rd party meaning if price of gold rises above the original purchase price. Selling back to Genneva is stupid investing if gold hit USD3000/oz compare to selling at original purchase price of USD1900/oz. (for example)
So the idea that Genneva is a con BCOZ gold prices drop is kinda wrong isn't it? Genneva has no control of the international gold price market. Investment is a risk and hibah is just a incentive compare to other metal traders.
Moreso, BNM accusation on violation of banking rule is ONLY on the hibah part, which is subjective by the way.
BNM perspective is that members are the lenders while holding the gold as collateral while receiving interest rate of lending (hibah). The difference is "lenders" can sell to 3rd party if gold price is higher than original purchased price (principal amount).
Imagine your bank sell your house, where you put as collateral for a loan because the house increased in price, even though you pay your monthly installment regularly. Banks cannot do that. In Genneva's case, members are allowed, hence the gold BELONGS to the members and NOT a collateral. Thus, no violation of any banking rules.
Money laundering and other prosecutions are to slap mud in Genneva's name as far as I'm concern.
So if BNM didn't raid Genneva, members will keep receiving the hibah and trade their gold according to market value.
IMO, if BNM didn't stop this operation, a LOT more people will get hurt because the dark pools are getting bigger and out of control. They can't stop the downward spiral of gold price and their obligation of "hibah" is bleeding their cash flow. How else this company can make money? By recruiting more consultants and members... that became a pyramid scheme. Eventually, this house of cards will tumble.
I think BNM did the right thing. Hopefully, the authority can prosecute those people and stop this kind of scheme and maybe be able to recover all the money to those people who got caught in the hysteria of buying their gold.