Seal genitals export attempt: Businessman faces wildlife trafficking, money laundering charges

A seal products company owner accused of illegally trying to export seal genitals from Namibia has been granted bail in an amount of N$50 000, after spending two months in custody.

Chinese citizen Hou Xuecheng (48) was granted bail in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court at Katutura on Friday.

Magistrate Wilka Amalwa ordered that Hou should surrender all of his travelling documents to the police officer investigating the case in which he was arrested nearly nine weeks ago and that he may not interfere with state witnesses or the investigation of his case while free on bail. Hou and a co-accused, Zhang Xianming (44), were arrested at Hosea Kutako International Airport on 7 January.

They are charged with a count of possessing or dealing in controlled wildlife products, with the state alleging that they had 40 parcels of seal genitals in their possession without having a permit allowing them to possess the items.

It is also alleged that they were intending to export the seal genitals, and that they did not have the required permits, including an animal health certificate, to do so.

Hou and Zhang are charged with a count under the Animal Health Act of 2011 and a count of money laundering as well. Zhang, who remains in custody, had a flight ticket to travel to Luanda in Angola when he was arrested.

During Hou’s bail hearing before Amalwa, a police officer told the court that Hou also has several other cases pending in courts in Namibia.

In a case dating from 2014, he is facing charges of possessing and dealing in controlled wildlife products, including ivory and cheetah, leopard, zebra and pangolin skins, the court was told.

The police officer also testified that Hou has a pending case in China, after he was arrested at an airport in China in March 2011 with more than 12 kilograms of ivory in suitcases belonging to him and his wife.

In Namibia, he is charged under the Anti-Corruption Act and with a count of defeating or obstructing the course of justice in two other matters as well.

In another case, which is also pending in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court, Hou is charged with a count of assault by threat, based on an allegation that he sent threatening messages to Chinese businesswoman Stina Wu in November last year.

In the messages, which Hou has denied sending, Wu was called a “dead woman” and told: “You go to hell. I’m coming for you.”
Hou was arrested on 28 November in connection with that matter. After nearly four weeks in custody, he was granted bail in an amount of N$10 000 on 24 December last year.

Hou told the court during his bail hearing in that matter that he was involved in a dispute with Wu after he tried to assist another Chinese citizen, who is facing charges of trafficking in persons, fraud, racketeering, money laundering and other counts in a separate case, to recover money that Wu allegedly owes him.

Hou also told Amalwa during his bail hearing before her that he has been living in Namibia for 24 years and is a 100% shareholder in the company Seal Products, which is based at Henties Bay, and in the close corporation Gold Lion Investment, which is involved in timber production at Katima Mulilo and Rundu.

He will be denying guilt on the charges he is facing about the seal genitals when he goes on trial, Hou said.

He has to appear in court again in that matter on 31 March.

Defence lawyer Jermaine Muchali represented him in the bail application.

The state was represented by deputy prosecutor general Johannes Kalipi.

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