B.C. man’s kin sues his alleged killer

Murdered B.C. man to avoid repaying $100M debt: lawsuit

The family of a B.C. man murdered last year in China is suing his alleged killer, claiming he borrowed more than $100 million from the victim, went on a real estate buying spree and didn’t pay the money back.

An amended notice of civil claim, filed July 4 in B.C. Supreme Court, accuses Long Ni of killing Changbin Yang to avoid repaying the debt.

“(Ni) never intended in paying back the proceeds. (He) murdered the deceased when the deceased tried to claim back the proceeds,” the lawsuit says. The allegations have not been tested in court and Ni, who is currently in custody in Hubei Province in China, has not filed a response.

According to the claim, which was first reported in Business in Vancouver, Ni borrowed approximately $113 million from Yang and his family over a 10-year span purportedly to invest in China’s mining industry. Ni told the family the investments could yield returns of up to 50 per cent per year.

Yang took money from accounts belonging to him and his wife, his mother-in-law and son-in-law to give to Ni. “The deceased claimed the debts from the defendant many times before his death but did not receive any payment from the defendant,” the lawsuit states. Rather than invest in mining, Ni instead put the money toward acquiring, preserving, maintaining or improving at least eight properties across Vancouver’s west side and nearby Burnaby, the lawsuit alleges.

“The defendants fraudulently represented that the proceeds were used as … investments in the mining industry in China but transferred the proceeds in purchasing properties in B.C.”

The properties have assessed values ranging from $834,000 to $9.62 million, according to the B.C. Assessment Authority. Most of the properties were registered under the name of Ni’s wife, Li Juan Chen, according to the claim.

When the National Post knocked on the door of one of the properties Tuesday, a woman, who identified herself as Ni’s wife, appeared from an upper balcony.

She confirmed that Ni has been detained in China for the past year. She said she had no involvement in her husband’s business dealings and said her family did not own all the properties listed in the lawsuit.

“What should I do?” she asked.

A couple who answered the door at another property said they had just started renting the home in April from a property

THE LAWSUIT ACCUSES THE DEFENDANTS OF ‘INDUCING’ PLAINTIFFS TO LEND THE MONEY.

management company and didn’t know who the owners were.

The lawsuit lists as plaintiffs Yang’s widow, Yu Fang Liu, and his children Yan Yang, Wen Li Yang, Wen Tao Yang and Si Yi Pang. They are all permanent residents of Canada, except for Yan Yang, who is a Chinese citizen, and described as “intestate heirs of (Yang’s) estate.”

Ni, Ni’s wife and their daughter, Ke Qing Ni, are listed as defendants. They are all permanent residents of Canada.

The lawsuit accuses the defendants of “inducing” the plaintiffs to lend the money with a guarantee of high returns.

“The defendants’ conducts (sic) have enriched all of them as they have received the proceeds transferred by the plaintiffs and used the proceeds for their personal benefits,” the claim alleges.

In addition to seeking repayment of the $113-million debt, the plaintiffs are asking for a declaration that the debt owed is a “liability arising out of fraud or misappropriation.” Such a declaration would mean the defendants cannot be absolved of the debt if they declare personal bankruptcy.

The circumstances of how Yang was killed in China could not be determined Tuesday. A spokeswoman for the RCMP in B.C. said inquiries regarding the homicide investigation should be directed at Chinese police authorities. A spokeswoman for Global Affairs Canada said they needed more time to gather information.

Angel Wang, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs, declined to comment when reached by phone.