A private Chinese businessman has reportedly fallen victim to his beche-de-mer agent in Luaniau Island, Malaita Outer Islands.

The businessman known as Jay who is married to a woman of mixed Luaniau and Chinese heritage, claimed his local agent, known as Suli, allegedly removed part of his $2.7 million intended for purchasing beche-de-mer (sea cucumbers) from the island.

According to the businessman, Suli initially sent a first shipment of beche-de-mer worth $1.4 million to Honiara. 

However, after that transaction, Suli allegedly began avoiding contact and failed to send any more consignments.

The situation escalated on Sunday when police from the Central Police Station in Honiara attempted to confiscate 21 of the 57 beche-de-mer bags that arrived aboard MV Awka.

However, the operation was interrupted by a police officer from the National Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) at Rove Headquarters, who allegedly has close ties with another Chinese buyer, identified as Frank Ci. 

Ci reportedly claimed ownership of all 57 bags of beche-de-mer.

Lawyer for the claimant, Jim Seiuka, questioned the NCID officer’s involvement, saying it was suspicious for an NCID officer to intervene in a case handled by the Central Police Station.

“The officer’s actions are questionable because he may be connected to the Chinese buyer from Luaniau, Frank Ci,” Seiuka said, adding that he will be filing a civil case against Ci to reclaim the 21 disputed bags.

A police officer from Central Police Station said all 57 bags should have been kept in police custody pending investigations into the missing funds in Luaniau.

He explained that any beche-de-mer shipment believed to have been paid for using the claimant’s money should be confiscated.

The Solomon Star understands that police are planning an operation to arrest Suli in Luaniau in connection with the alleged theft.

However, in response on Thursday, Chinese businessman Frank Chi, has maintained innocence in the near commotion that occurred at the Point Cruz wharf, Honiara last Sunday.

The incident unfolded when officers from the Central Police Station arrived to confiscate about 400 bags of beche-de-mer belonging to Chi, which were loaded on board the MV Akwa.
Police acted following a complaint lodged by the Chinese buyer, Jay, who claimed that 21 of the bags in Chi’s consignment were illegal removed.

Jay reportedly provided SBD $2.7 million in cash and goods to his local agent, Paul Saloli, to purchase beche-de-mer on Luaniau Island.

Jay received reports alleging that Saloli had sold 36 bags of beche-de-mer to his younger brother, Willie Akipu, who acts as an agent for Chi, and an additional 21 bags that were shipped aboard MV Akwa last Sunday.

Chi’s local representative, Timothy Amalo (known as T.Max), told Solomon Star on Thursday he was the one who contacted the National Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) to assist at the wharf when Central Police attempted to seize all 400 bags.

“I asked the Central Police officers to show documents to prove their authority, but they had none. 

“I became concerned and called NCID, who sent an officer to the wharf,” Amalo explained.

“The NCID officer told the Central Police not to take the consignment because it was a one-sided story,” he added.

Amalo stressed that Saloli never worked for Chi, and therefore the dispute between Jay and his agent has nothing to do with them.

He also said police had asked Jay to produce a witness to identify his 21 bags but that no witness had come forward since Tuesday.

“As far as we are concerned, this issue is between Jay and Saloli, not with Frank Chi,” Amalo said.

He maintained that both Staff Sergeant police officer from NCID and Frank Chi are innocent in the matter.