Wanted in China with $100M in Properties Frozen in the UK, ‘Mr. X’ is Living in Japan

A Chinese fugitive wanted in connection with alleged illegal gambling operations has been identified as Su Jiangbo, a man whose assets in the United Kingdom have been frozen by authorities. According to reports, Su Jiangbo has been residing in Japan for the past two years, where he operates a travel business and owns two properties. His presence in Japan comes amid ongoing investigations in both China and the United Kingdom, where over $100 million worth of his London real estate has been placed under freeze orders. Su Jiangbo, who has been labeled "Mr. X" by British prosecutors, is reportedly wanted in China for running unlawful gambling activities. In Japan, he is listed as the director of an Osaka-based tourism and real estate company, Tenichi Fuka Ltd, which owns another property. Land and company records obtained by Kyodo News indicate that Su Jiangbo purchased a home in the suburbs of Osaka in 2024. He stated in an email to OCCRP that he relocated to Japan due to its political and economic stability, developed infrastructure, and strong intellectual property protections, which he claims offer a solid foundation for long-term business ventures. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the United Kingdom announced in March that it had issued freezing orders on 85 of Su Jiangbo's London properties. However, the agency referred to him only as "Mr. X" in its official statement. The CPS indicated that Unexplained Wealth Orders and Interim Freezing Orders were issued against a "Chinese national and associated U.K. companies," suspected of using illicitly obtained money to purchase properties. At the time, the CPS declined to comment further on the case. Su Jiangbo has not been formally charged with any crime in the United Kingdom and strongly denies any wrongdoing. He informed OCCRP that he has retained legal counsel to contest the asset freeze. He emphasized that all funds used to acquire the relevant assets came from legitimate sources, backed by complete financial records and documentation. However, he refrained from disclosing the exact origin of the funds used to purchase the U.K. properties, citing the need to preserve procedural fairness. In China, Su Jiangbo has been designated as a "fugitive criminal suspect" by the Datian County Public Security Bureau in Fujian Province. A list of 38 wanted individuals published by the bureau includes his name. Local courts did not respond to previous requests for comment on the case. Su Jiangbo categorically denied committing any criminal offense or illegal act, stating that he has instructed his lawyers to handle the matter and that it would be inappropriate for him to elaborate further on what he described as baseless allegations. According to reports, Su Jiangbo moved to Japan in 2024 and focused on the tourism industry. He noted that the depreciation of the Japanese yen in recent years has spurred growth in the tourism sector, creating substantial commercial opportunities. He incorporated his Osaka-based company, Tenichi Fuka Ltd, in April 2024 to capitalize on the booming Japanese tourism market. Corporate records reveal that Su Jiangbo registered Tenichi Fuka under his other name, "Su Jimmy," which is his legal identity in Cambodia, where he acquired citizenship in 2015. The company's website promotes high-end travel packages in Japan featuring "Michelin-level private dining," "signature spa rituals," and "immersive nature therapies." Su Jiangbo mentioned updating the company profile in Japan's corporate registry in April of this year to include additional sectors such as "real estate and construction." Su Jiangbo also disclosed that he has no association with the Prince Group, despite being linked to a residential address in Suita, Osaka, which was recently used as a personal correspondence address by Hu Xiaowei, who has been sanctioned for his alleged ties to the Prince Group. Su Jiangbo clarified that Tenichi Fuka Ltd, a Japanese company directed by him, is the owner of the residential address in question.