Victim’s brother seeking to protect millions in assets

MURDER CASE: Businessman fears person accused in slaying will use money as security for his release

The brother of a West Vancouver man whose body was allegedly chopped up after he was murdered is going to court in a bid to stop the man accused in the slaying from getting his hands on millions in assets.

Qiang Yuan, a Chinese businessman and the brother of murder victim Gang Yuan, has filed a petition in B.C. Supreme Court seeking to be appointed as administrator of the estate of his 42-year-old brother, who died without a will May 2.

Li Zhao, 54, the husband of Qiang Yuan’s cousin, Xiao Mei Li, has been charged with second-degree murder and with interfering with a body in connection with the slaying.

At the time of the murder, Zhao, Li, Gang Yuan and Gang Yuan’s daughter lived at the residence at 963 King Georges Way, according to an affidavit filed by Qiang Yuan.

Police were called to the scene after a report of a violent confrontation at the premises.

“I am very concerned that Xiao Mei Li or Li Zhao have been and will in the future dissipate the estate’s assets, including most immediately, the West Vancouver property,” Qiang Yuan’s affidavit says.

“Li Zhao will be having a bail hearing on or about May 29, 2015, regarding the murder charge and I am concerned that he or my cousin will offer the residence as security for his release.

“It would be most troubling if Li Zhao were permitted to use an asset bought and paid for by my brother to secure his release on the charge of murdering him.”

Gang Yuan was a businessman dealing with a number of projects, including real estate development, real estate rental and leasing farmland, and was the sole shareholder of several companies including Canada National Development Group Inc., State Agriculture Development Inc. and Canada National Investment Inc., according to court documents.

Qiang Yuan says that within the next month, there are two contracts his brother was dealing with that are worth nearly $10 million.

“Insurance has to be dealt with on assets worth $14,600,000,” his petition says. “There needs to be court action started so assets worth over $5 million can be protected. The estate needs to contact the banks concerning bank accounts and mortgages.”

Gang Yuan had two vehicles bought for about $600,000 US several years ago.

“These cars have now been towed and they are in storage,” the affidavit says.

“However, I would like to be able to deal with the vehicle insurance and with ICBC to ensure that proper coverage has been placed on these cars.”

Yuan claims Li or Zhao held signing authority over his brother’s personal bank accounts and for two of the companies.

His brother provided much, if not all, of the down payment and mortgage payments, house maintenance and repair for the West Vancouver home, which has a declared valued of $4.4 million, he claims.

Yuan believes Li and Zhao have been “unjustly enriched” as a result of the payments.

He said his brother did not have a wife, but did have at least one child and possibly as many as five children, all of them minors.

The Chinese man said he arrived in Canada on May 5, shortly after the murder, and his visa entitles him to stay in Canada for six months, but he says he will seek an extension if necessary.

The case was scheduled to be heard Tuesday in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver, but it has been adjourned.

No response has yet been filed to the petition, which contains allegations which have not been proven in court.