Lay Chansin Chinese entrepreneur. Country: China

1. Biography of Lai Changxin - Chinese Entrepreneur
2. Accusations of Smuggling and Bribery
3. Life in Canada and Controversies

Biography of Lai Changxin - Chinese Entrepreneur

Lai Changxin, a Chinese entrepreneur, was born in a village in the Fujian province to a family of low-ranking officials. In 1979, he founded one of the first private enterprises in the province, which specialized in manufacturing auto parts. Seeking better opportunities, Lai moved to Hong Kong in 1991, thanks to a friend who adopted him, allowing him to obtain Hong Kong citizenship. He established a trading firm that focused on trade between Hong Kong and Xiamen. In 1994, he founded the Yuanhua Group, which started operating in Xiamen, an economic special zone. Lai developed strong relationships with local party and government elites, enabling him to expand his business significantly.

Accusations of Smuggling and Bribery

Several years later, Lai was accused by Chinese authorities of engaging in large-scale smuggling and bribery. It is alleged that he was involved in smuggling oil, cars, cigarettes, and various other goods into China, with a total value of 53 billion yuan (6.38 billion dollars). As a result of these illicit activities, the state treasury suffered a loss of approximately 30 billion yuan (3.6 billion dollars). Lai's bribes reached officials from the local customs, police, municipality, and communist party. Additionally, he paid for mistresses for corrupt officials and even maintained a special brothel for them. Despite becoming the "number one corrupt official" and the most wanted fugitive, Lai managed to escape to Canada in 1999 with his wife, using his Hong Kong passport.

Life in Canada and Controversies

In Canada, Lai settled in Vancouver and applied for political asylum. Among many Chinese, he gained a reputation as a "gentleman bandit" who outsmarted the authorities and was generous towards the poor. Lai's defenders also argue that his commercial activities would not have been illegal in a market economy, and all his crimes are only crimes within the communist system. The Chinese authorities demanded Lai's extradition from Canada, but the Canadian court denied him refugee status. In order to secure his extradition, the Chinese government promised that he would not face the death penalty if returned. In the Fujian province, around 100 people received various sentences related to corruption charges linked to Lai Changxin's activities, and a few even received death sentences.