Key Takeaways:
Six Chinese suspects fled to China by May 20, triggering an Interpol hunt by Windhoek High Court.
Seven remaining defendants must return to Judge Christiaan’s Namibian court on July 22, 2026.
Moyo identified the missing defendants as Guo Linjie, Li Zirian, Shi Zijun, Chen Wuyu, Wu Nengjun, and Wu Weiyang. Two other international defendants—Zheng Haifeng of Vanuatu and Ghim Hwee Chris Ang of Singapore—also failed to appear for pretrial hearings both in April and on May 20.
In response, Judge Philanda Christiaan officially revoked bail for all eight absent defendants and ordered their combined deposits of about $29,800 (490,000 Namibian dollars) forfeited to the state. Christiaan had previously issued arrest warrants for the group on April 22.
Seven remaining co-defendants—including three Chinese nationals, a Cuban citizen, and three Namibians—appeared in court on the same day. The group faces 65 combined counts, including 57 counts of human trafficking, as well as racketeering, fraud, and money laundering.
The defendants present were ordered to return to court for a third pretrial hearing on July 22. All suspects in the case were originally arrested in October 2023 and had been released on bail at various points throughout 2024.
