Six Chinese nationals charged in Namibia with human trafficking and cryptocurrency fraud fled to China by May 20, after skipping a mandatory court appearance. Prosecutors told the Windhoek High Court that local authorities engaged Interpol to locate the fugitives. The court revoked bail for eight absent defendants, forfeiting combined deposits of about $29,800 to the state, and noted arrest warrants issued on April 22. The case centers on a pig butchering scam run through Raylon Investments between December 2022 and October 2023. The syndicate allegedly recruited unemployed Namibians, subjected them to forced labor, and coerced them to create fake social media profiles posing as European and American women. Victims were then manipulated into sending funds to cryptocurrency accounts controlled by the syndicate, with investigators estimating about $267,800 stolen globally. Seven co-defendants remain and must return to court on July 22, 2026.
"State advocate Erick Moyo told the Windhoek High Court that local authorities have engaged Interpol to help locate the six fugitives, who skipped a mandatory court appearance four weeks ago. Moyo identified the missing defendants as Guo Linjie, Li Zirian, Shi Zijun, Chen Wuyu, Wu Nengjun, and Wu Weiyang. Two other international defendants—Zheng Haifeng of Vanuatu and Ghim Hwee Chris Ang of Singapore—also failed to appear for pretrial hearings both in April and on May 20."
"In response, Judge Philanda Christiaan officially revoked bail for all eight absent defendants and ordered their combined deposits of about $29,800 (490,000 Namibian dollars) forfeited to the state. Christiaan had previously issued arrest warrants for the group on April 22. The high-profile case involves a sophisticated pig butchering scam."
"According to prosecutors, the syndicate operated between December 2022 and October 2023 through a front company called Raylon Investments. The group allegedly recruited unemployed Namibians and subjected them to forced labor. The state claims these employees were coerced into creating fake social media profiles, posing as European and American women to trick international victims into romantic relationships. Once trust was established, the victims were manipulated into sending funds to cryptocurrency accounts controlled by the syndicate."
"Investigators estimate the operation stole roughly $267,800 from victims globally. Seven remaining co-defendants—including three Chinese nationals—must return to Judge Christiaan’s Namibian court on July 22, 2026."
Read at news.bitcoin.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]