B.C. developer denies links to Chinese corruption case
They look alike, have near identical names and are related to a former high-ranking member of China’s ruling Communist party who was expelled for corruption. But are Michael Ching and Muyang Cheng the same man?
Michael Ching, through his representatives, denies that he and Muyang Cheng are the same man.
Ching is a prominent Vancouver property developer with strong political connections to the Liberal Party of Canada, and often appears at fundraising events. He also goes by another name, Mo Yeung Ching.
Cheng, 45, is a Chinese fugitive who reportedly fled to Canada in 2000 with millions of dollars of ill-gotten money. He has been the subject of an Interpol Red Notice since about 2013.
One of Ching’s lawyers told The Province they are of the opinion they are different men.
The federal Liberal party isn’t so sure, and has launched an internal review to find out whether Ching is Cheng, and if any illicit gains have poured into party coffers.
“The party is taking it seriously in Ottawa, and there are actions to review the concern, and that is what is happening now,” said a well-placed source in the Liberal Party of Canada.
The confusing narrative centres on Beijing’s ongoing efforts to repatriate fugitives living abroad, which began several years ago with a wave of Red Notices issued by Interpol on Beijing’s request. Then last week, in a fresh crackdown dubbed by Beijing as Operation Sky Net, the names and faces of more than two dozen Chinese fugitives wanted on an assortment of alleged corruption charges and believed to be living in Canada were broadcast.
In each instance, Cheng’s grinning face, with its distinctive mole near the right eye, was among the accused. His alleged crime: political corruption.
The Province began asking about the man in the Interpol Red Notice back in February. The trail quickly led to Vancouver lawyer Lawrence Wong, who represents Michael Ching, the president of Mo Yeung International Enterprise Ltd., a Richmond, B.C.,-based development company.
During an interview, Wong said his client is not the same person featured in the Interpol Red Notice. He did confirm, however, that Ching is related to the late Cheng Weigao, the former governor and Communist party chief of China’s Hebei Province whose career ended in disgrace in 2003 amid allegations of corruption, bribery and strongarming. Cheng Weigao had one son: his name is Muyang Cheng. So who is Michael Ching? On paper, Ching is the president, secretary and sole director of Mo Yeung International Enterprise Ltd., which was incorporated in 2000, records show.
He lives in a multimillion dollar home in Vancouver and has donated regularly to both the B.C. Liberal party and the Liberal Party of Canada.
The company has developed “over 11-million square feet of real estate projects in Canada the United States and Asia,” according to its website. Corporate records show that a Mo Yeung Ching was a director of AuXin Resources until August 2013, when a new director was named. According to corporate records one of the company’s directors is Stanley Wong, a Vancouver certified public accountant.
The Province contacted Wong last Friday and asked him questions about Mo Yeung Ching. Wong said he is now listed as director of Auxin, but said that “Mo Yeung Ching is still the president.”