A Chinese billionaire who fled to Canada after allegedly swindling millions from government coffers would face almost certain death if he were ever to return to his homeland, according to an author.
Lai Changxing became an entrepreneurial billionaire in China, building an empire reputedly based on building projects and sales as well as prostitution and smuggled goods. However, today, Lai lives in Canada and is perhaps the most wanted man in China.
Lai's life and the corruption and bribery in China's business world are exposed in a new book called "Inside the Red Mansion," written by author Oliver August.
"I met a bunch of really interesting (Chinese) people, some of them criminals, some of them not," August, the former Beijing bureau chief for The Times of London told CTV's Canada AM. "All of them had fantastic stories and I wanted to tell those stories too. Through those stories I think you get an idea of what China is like and also how did somebody like Lai grow up to be a billionaire when the guy's illiterate."
August contextualizes his seven-year search for Lai with a description of the environment in which he lived detailing how entrepreneurs and politicians commingled in shady business and illicit activities.
"He had an extraordinary life," said August. "He lived very large in China, building himself imperial palaces and concubine pleasure grounds and was going to build the biggest skyscraper in China. One day things changed and he jumped on a speed boat went to Hong Kong and took a plane to Vancouver."
August said that the Chinese government eventually decided that Lai was becoming too powerful and couldn't tolerate "alternative centres of power," triggering his flight. Lai now lives in Vancouver with his family, where August eventually spoke to Lai. Despite having been denied refugee status, Lai is "apparently having a grand old time" according to August.
While China has promised Lai will not face the death penalty if he returns to China, others involved in the smuggling ring have been sentenced to death. Some have already been executed.
"A Canadian federal court judge says it's patently unreasonable to believe the Chinese will take him back and do nothing about it when they've already given the death sentence to 14 of his associates," August said.
