Arrest of Chinese tycoon in Thailand exposes dubious business model in India’s Eastern neighbourhood

Arrest of a Chinese businessman in Bangkok last week has exposed a dubious business model adopted by some Chinese nationals in parts of Southeast Asia that thrives on conning and gambling.

The arrested businessman, She Zhijiang, chairman of Hong Kong-based Yatai Group, was the subject of an international arrest warrant for allegedly running an illegal online casino.

He also had controversial mega projects and gaming ventures in Cambodia and at Shwe Kokko in Myanmar’s Karen state, as well as a lottery venture in the Philippines, persons familiar with this matter told ET.


Chinese nationals are accused of running illicit businesses in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and along Thai-Myanmar border that involve luring unemployed youth into gambling, arms and flesh trade, ET has learnt.

Gambling is outlawed in mainland China.

Interpol issued a red corner notice for She in May 2021, alleging that between January 2018 and February 2021, he colluded with others to register companies, and research and develop online gambling platforms.

The notice also alleged that She – who heads a “criminal gang” – set up online gambling websites including Hongshulin, Yigou and Yiyou International and lured in 330,000 gamblers.

Shwe Kokko was launched as a new city project near the Myanmar-Thai border in 2017. The $15-billion project is a collaboration between BGF – a Myanmar military-backed armed group – and She’s Hong Kong-registered Yatai International Holding Group (IHG).

Chinese criminal syndicates are allegedly operating across borders in Southeast Asian countries in the guise of business, creating a headache for law enforcement agencies. Several Chinese syndicates are allegedly operating along the border between Cambodia and Thailand. The syndicates have taken advantage of Covid-19 which has rendered many youths unemployed, as ET had reported earlier.

Media reports from Southeast Asia have revealed that hundreds of Malaysians, Filipinos and Indonesians have also been lured to Cambodia by organised crime groups based in and around Sihanoukville, a city notorious for lawlessness, casinos and Chinese criminal gangs.