Ji Xiaobo, the former Macau junket executive who oversaw controversial Saipan casino operator Imperial Pacific International (IPI), has been deemed to be the head of a “criminal syndicate” by a Beijing court.
The Beijing Municipal First Intermediate People’s Court ruled on 24 November that Ji was involved in the crimes of picking quarrels and provoking trouble, unlawful intrusion into a home, illegal debt, transporting others across the border and establishing a casino.
It is believed the charges relate both to his time as an executive of Macau junket Hengsheng Group and as project director for Imperial Pacific International, which ran Imperial Palace • Saipan before it was shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. Ji’s mother, Cui Lijie, is IPI’s majority shareholder.
Ji was deemed to be the head of a criminal syndicate while the court sentenced 15 other people, including his aunt Cui Limei, who was sentenced to eight-and-a half years in prison and fined RMB200,000 (US28,170). The case specifically related to JI Xiaobo will be tried separately.
According to courtroom documents, the criminal syndicate was operated by Ji between 2008 and 2021 where it sought to make illegal profits by setting up casinos outside China; organizing people to use violence, threats and other means to demand the repayment of gambling debts; and organizing people to convert the debts accrued as a result of gambling and transfer the assets.
It is believed Ji has gone into hiding ever since the arrests of fellow junket operators, Suncity’s Alvin Chau and Tak Chun’s Levo Chan, in recent years. Hengsheng Group also closed after Ji’s disappearance.
IPI was founded after Ji’s mother, Cui Lijie acquired 74.99% of the issued shares of First Natural Foods Holdings, which was renamed Imperial Pacific International Holdings in May 2014. The company then successfully bid for the only gambling license on Saipan, opening temporary casino Best Sunshine the following year.
Imperial Palace • Saipan soft opened in 2017 but was closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later had its casino license suspended for failure to pay various license fees.
The local Commonwealth Casino Commission is currently seeking to revoke IPI’s casino license permanently.
