By Shinovene Immanuel | 22 December 2016
SEVERAL Chinese companies, including one linked to millionaire Jack Huang, President Hage Geingob’s business partner and friend, are being investigated for fraud, tax evasion and money laundering involving more than N$3 billion.
The Namibian learnt this week that police began raids, targeting 30 Chinese businesses countrywide, but had not swooped on Golden Phoenix Enterprises, a company that is connected to Huang.
Huang was seen with police Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga last week.
Even though Huang has strongly denied owning Golden Phoenix saying he resigned from the company 10 years ago and that he is not being investigated, public information obtained from the ministry of trade shows that he co-owns Golden Phoenix.
Golden Phoenix, which is listed among 30 Chinese companies being probed by the state for financial foul play, is not the property development company that Huang owns with Geingob.
Ndeitunga confirmed on Monday that he sanctioned an operation into several companies that are suspected of defrauding the state. “Investigations are ongoing. I cannot provide more information because it will jeopardise our investigations,” he said.
Police raids have mainly focussed on //Karas and Erongo regions and the town of Oshikango on the border with Angola in northern Namibia.
Information seen by The Namibian shows that a search warrant was issued for 30 companies, whereby all computers and other documents were to be confiscated.
Sources said yesterday, police had targeted Namibian companies that provide import and export services for the Chinese.
Besides Huang – linked Golden Phoenix, some of the companies accused of suspected fraud, money laundering and tax evasion are China South Industry and Trading CC; Golden Star Textiles Enterprises CC; Hua Neng Manufacturing and Trading CC; Jia Mu Trading CC; Shashi Import and Export CC; Shuai Ang Investment CC; Trust Investment CC, and Windhoek China House Store CC.
Another company suspected of financial cheating is Nam-Dan Import and Export CC, a company that allegedly employed Chinese rhino poaching suspect Geng Zhi. The prosecutor general, Martha Imalwa, said in court papers filed this year that she believed that several properties owned by Zhi were from proceeds of unlawful activities such as poaching, tax evasion and money laundering.
Huang initially denied links to Golden Phoenix saying “I am sorry to inform you that I am not the owner or employee of Golden Phoenix.” Data obtained from the trade ministry shows that he is one of the owners of Golden Phoenix, together with fellow Chinese nationals Li Dan, Xiaojun Chen and Huizhong Tao.
When The Namibian showed him evidence of ownership, Huang then claimed that the information obtained by this newspaper is outdated and not correct “since Huang has already sold all his shares a decade ago”. Huang said Xiaojun Chen sold all his shares many years ago and had left Namibia.
He said he does not have information about who the current owners are.
Huang initially promised The Namibian, through his lawyers that they will provide contrary evidence that he is not the owner. But his lawyer Sisa Namandje yesterday said that “my client maintains that he is not the owner of the company”. He said his clients were still requesting documents.
MEETING
Huang allegedly met Ndeitunga at the police head office last week to talk about the poaching of Namibian wildlife. Thereafter, he is said to have organised a meeting of the Chinese business community in Windhoek last Thursday, where Ndeitunga warned the Chinese against poaching. Huang also spoke at that event where he discouraged fellow nationals from involvement in criminal activities.
Other sources suggest that Ndeitunga and Huang had an opportunity to talk about the probe into fraud, tax evasion and money laundering before that community meeting. That, sources said, may explain why Huang’s businesses had not been searched by Tuesday, even though other companies suspected of wrongdoing were raided last week.
Some suspect Huang is being handled with kid gloves because he is a friend to Ndeitunga, while others insist that two people were arrested yesterday at Huang’s company premises.
Ndeitunga denied allegations that he is protecting Huang and that he had discussed the latest investigation with him.
“We have some kind of relationship, but it is a professional relationship without attachments. It is not based on benefits,” The police boss said.
Police are also accused of targeting Namibian custom companies that work for the Chinese companies, instead of questioning the Chinese nationals directly.
“Our actions will not spare anybody,” Ndeitunga said. Chinese nationals complained to Ndeitunga last week that their businesses were being raided. Ndeitunga allegedly told the Chinese business people not to count on his assistance, because the police officers were carrying out their national duties.
Asked about his links to Ndeitunga, Huang said “the relationship between Inspector General Ndeitunga and myself is just like that of yourself with him, as well as every Namibian citizen with the Namibian police.”
Golden Phoenix Enterprises, based in Oshikango, is the same firm that reportedly funds Namibian students to study in China through the China Loving Heart Organisation, an institution he chairs.
The Chinese millionaire said “The Namibian-Chinese Loving Heart Organisation has not received any funds from any other companies, including the company you mentioned”.
Huang is a jack of all trades. He owns Sun Group International, a company that has invested in and constructed commercial buildings such as Freedom Square, Dragon City, China Town and Sun Square Hotel at Oshikango and the Ondangwa Sun Square Mall.
Huang has connections to the country’s top office through private dealings with the President and other senior government officials. Huang and Geingob co-own African Sunrise Investment, a real estate company that aims to build a township east of Windhoek.
Geingob, through his family trust, has a 20% stake in African Sunrise Investment; his ex-wife Loini has 20%; while their partner, Huang, owns 60%.
The company wants to build 400 apartments, 24 villas, two mansions and a hotel in the upmarket area east of Windhoek. Geingob donated a house to the Hansen family in Katutura after they lost their home in 2007. The new house was built by Huang’s company Sun Investment Group for N$600 000.
*This story was produced by The Namibian’s investigative unit team. Send us story tips via your secure email to: [email protected]
Have you ever considered about including a little bit more than just your articles?
I mean, what you say is fundamental and everything.
Nevertheless imagine if you added some great graphics or
videos to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent
but with pics and video clips, this blog could certainly be one of the very best in its field.
Wonderful blog!
Wow, great blog.Really thank you! Keep writing.
Great, thanks for sharing this post.Really thank you! Awesome.
Fantastic article.Much thanks again. Much obliged.
Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic post.Thanks Again. Cool.
Very informative article post. Awesome.
I appreciate you sharing this blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Really Cool.
I really liked your blog article.Much thanks again. Really Great.
Im thankful for the article.Thanks Again. Want more.
Say, you got a nice blog post.Really thank you! Cool.
I cannot thank you enough for the blog.Really thank you! Keep writing.
Awesome article.Much thanks again. Keep writing.
Wow, great blog post.Thanks Again.
Great blog. Keep writing.
wow, awesome article post.Much thanks again. Will read on…
Thank you for your blog article.Much thanks again. Fantastic.
Im thankful for the blog.Really looking forward to read more. Keep writing.
Thank you ever so for you blog article.Thanks Again. Fantastic.
Thanks again for the article post.Thanks Again. Fantastic.
I value the article. Really Great.
A round of applause for your blog.Much thanks again. Fantastic.
Really appreciate you sharing this blog.Much thanks again. Want more.
Looking forward to reading more. Great article post.Really thank you! Fantastic.
Really appreciate you sharing this article.Really thank you! Awesome.
Major thanks for the article post.Thanks Again. Awesome.
Fantastic blog.Thanks Again. Fantastic.
Great blog article.Really thank you! Awesome.
Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic blog post.Much thanks again. Much obliged.
I loved your post.Much thanks again. Really Great.
I cannot thank you enough for the article.Really thank you! Great.
Really informative blog.Really looking forward to read more. Great.
Thanks again for the post.Much thanks again. Keep writing.
Major thanks for the article.Much thanks again. Want more.
Very informative article.Really looking forward to read more. Cool.
wow, awesome article.Really thank you! Cool.
Major thankies for the blog.Really thank you! Really Great.
I am so grateful for your article post.Really thank you! Much obliged.
Great blog.Really thank you! Really Great.
Very neat post.Much thanks again. Cool.
Fantastic blog. Cool.
Very informative blog article.Really thank you! Awesome.
Muchos Gracias for your blog. Really Great.
wow, awesome blog post.Really thank you! Keep writing.
Im obliged for the blog.Really thank you! Keep writing.
This is one awesome article.Thanks Again. Much obliged.
wow, awesome blog article.Thanks Again. Really Cool.
A big thank you for your blog.Thanks Again. Awesome.
Very informative blog.Really looking forward to read more. Keep writing.
Wow, great post.
I cannot thank you enough for the article.Much thanks again. Keep writing.
Muchos Gracias for your article.Really thank you! Will read on…
I appreciate you sharing this blog.
wow, awesome post.Much thanks again. Cool.
Im thankful for the blog article. Will read on…
I value the article.Really looking forward to read more. Cool.
Looking forward to reading more. Great blog article.Really thank you! Cool.
Fantastic article.Really thank you! Keep writing.
Thank you ever so for you blog post.Thanks Again. Really Cool.
Awesome blog article.Really thank you! Want more.
Really informative article.Really looking forward to read more. Cool.
Very neat blog.Thanks Again. Really Cool.
A round of applause for your article post. Cool.
Thank you for your blog.Really thank you! Fantastic.
Im grateful for the post.Really looking forward to read more. Really Cool.
Thanks a lot for the blog.Thanks Again.
wow, awesome article post.Thanks Again. Awesome.
Thanks for the blog article. Want more.
Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic article.Thanks Again. Really Great.
I really enjoy the blog.Thanks Again. Keep writing.
Very neat blog article.Much thanks again. Great.
A big thank you for your blog article.Much thanks again. Keep writing.
Major thankies for the article. Want more.
Im obliged for the blog. Cool.
I appreciate you sharing this blog article. Awesome.
This is one awesome post. Will read on…
Wow, great blog. Keep writing.
I am so grateful for your post.Much thanks again. Want more.
A round of applause for your post.Much thanks again. Keep writing.
Very good blog article. Fantastic.
Very neat blog article.Really looking forward to read more. Really Great.
Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic article post. Much obliged.
Great, thanks for sharing this article post.Thanks Again. Will read on…
I loved your article. Fantastic.
Enjoyed every bit of your blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Fantastic.
Thank you for your article post.Much thanks again. Want more.