Since 2015, Chinese real estate billionaire Guo Wengui has lived in self-imposed exile in an impressive spread high in the Sherry-Netherland, which is currently on the market for $78 million. Safe in his aerie, Wengui has posted several videos online, accusing Chinese government officials, as well as developers such as Soho China and HNA Group, of corruption. Now, they are coming for him in U.S. court.
Four of his social media targets are now suing Wengui — also known as Miles Kwok — for defamation, according to the New York Post.
But defamation cases are not Wengui’s biggest problem. In April, Interpol issued a “red alert” for Wengui,which is basically an international arrest warrant, though the charges he would face in China are not clear.
Moreover, a Hong Kong hedge fund has asked a New York judge to block any sale of his Sherry-Netherland apartment, claiming it’s the only way it will get back money it lent to Wengui in 2008. He bought the full-floor apartment for nearly $70 million two years ago after leaving China amid a corruption scandal. He re-listed the 18th-floor co-op several months later for $86 million.
In his latest online attack, Wengui lashed out at Yan Huang, a member of Beijing’s municipal planning committee, who joins journalist Hu Shuli, businessman Pan Shiyi and investor Jiansheng Xie as the fourth person suing Wengui in New York state court [NYP] —Christopher Cameron