Cui Lijie
{{short description|Chinese billionaire businesswoman|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{family name hatnote|Cui|lang=Chinese}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Cui Lijie
|image =
|alt =
|caption =
|birth_date = c. {{birth year and age|1959}}
|birth_place = Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| death_date =
| death_place =
| citizenship = Hong Kong
| other_names =
| occupation = Businesswoman
| years_active =
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| notable_works =
| title =
| boards = Imperial Pacific
| children = 1
}}
Cui Lijie ({{zh|s=崔丽杰|p=Cuī Lìjié}}; born c. 1959) is a Chinese billionaire businesswoman, Hong Kong citizen, and majority owner of Imperial Pacific.{{Cite web|title=Cui Lijie|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/cui-lijie/|access-date=2020-07-03|website=Forbes|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408052404/https://www.forbes.com/profile/cui-lijie/|archive-date=2019-04-08|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Cohen|first=Muhammad|date=February 24, 2017|title=One Woman's Journey From 'Barefoot Doctor' To Casino Billionaire|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/muhammadcohen/2017/02/24/one-womans-journey-from-barefoot-doctor-to-casino-billionaire/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429232222/https://www.forbes.com/sites/muhammadcohen/2017/02/24/one-womans-journey-from-barefoot-doctor-to-casino-billionaire/|archive-date=April 29, 2017|access-date=2020-07-03|website=Forbes|language=en}}
Background
Originally from Harbin, Heilongjiang, China, she is a former barefoot doctor who worked in the countryside. In 1988, she invested in an auto parts and equipment factory serving a military school in Harbin.{{Cite web|title=Cui Ljie|url=http://blacktiemagazine.com/impact_investing/cui_ljie.htm|access-date=2020-07-05|website=blacktiemagazine.com|archive-date=2020-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823235601/http://blacktiemagazine.com/impact_investing/cui_ljie.htm|url-status=live}} She later invested in pawnshop lending and real estate.
Career
She and her son Ji Xiaobo ({{lang|zh|纪晓波}}) became involved in the Macau casino junket business in 2009 through a company called Heng Sheng.{{Cite web|date=2018-05-16|title=Ji Xiaobo family: how the Saipan casino tycoon was made|url=http://finance.ifeng.com/a/20180516/16280262_0.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408052404/http://finance.ifeng.com/a/20180516/16280262_0.shtml|archive-date=2019-04-08|access-date=2019-04-08|website=Phoenix Television|language=zh}} In September 2013, Cui Lijie's company Inventive Star Limited acquired a publicly-listed Hong Kong company called First Natural Foods after its founder had been accused of embezzlement.{{Cite web|last=Li|first=Kanis|date=April 25, 2013|title=SFC takes First Natural Foods founder to court over HK$84m embezzlement claim|url=https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1222446/sfc-takes-first-natural-foods-founder-court-over-hk84m|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117114616/https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1222446/sfc-takes-first-natural-foods-founder-court-over-hk84m|archive-date=November 17, 2018|access-date=2020-07-03|website=South China Morning Post|language=en}} In December 2013, First Natural Foods acquired Heng Sheng for HK$400 million.{{Cite news|date=5 December 2013|title=First Natural Foods to buy Hengsheng for HK$400 Mln|work=Asia Gaming Brief|url=http://agbrief.com/news/first-natural-foods-buy-hengsheng-hk400-mln|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603165636/http://agbrief.com/news/first-natural-foods-buy-hengsheng-hk400-mln|archive-date=June 3, 2016}} In 2014, First Natural Foods was renamed Imperial Pacific.{{Cite news|last=Cohen|first=Muhammad|date=January 31, 2017|title=Saipan: Trouble in paradise|work=Inside Asian Gaming|url=https://www.asgam.com/index.php/2017/01/31/saipan-trouble-in-paradise/|url-status=live|access-date=July 3, 2020|archive-date=August 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823235613/https://www.asgam.com/index.php/2017/01/31/saipan-trouble-in-paradise/}}
Cui Lijie remains the majority beneficial owner of Imperial Pacific, which owns an exclusive casino license for Saipan and a $600 million beachfront hotel.{{Cite web|title=Imperial Pacific International Holdings Limited: 2019 Annual Report|url=https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0427/2020042702572.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823232233/https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0427/2020042702572.pdf|archive-date=August 23, 2020|access-date=July 3, 2020|website=Hong Kong Stock Exchange}}{{Cite web|last=Erediano|first=Emmanuel T.|date=June 6, 2020|title=Hong Kong billionaire showcases Saipan casino suites|url=https://www.postguam.com/news/cnmi/hong-kong-billionaire-showcases-saipan-casino-suites/article_f35e9b26-a6ea-11ea-9367-fbc38bdf3ead.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823235602/https://www.postguam.com/news/cnmi/hong-kong-billionaire-showcases-saipan-casino-suites/article_f35e9b26-a6ea-11ea-9367-fbc38bdf3ead.html|archive-date=2020-08-23|access-date=2020-07-03|website=The Guam Daily Post|language=en}} Her son has been described as the "mastermind" of Imperial Pacific's casino in Saipan.{{Cite web|last=Cohen|first=Muhammad|date=February 7, 2018|title=One Of Hong Kong's Richest Women, Cui Lijie Is Losing Her Bet On Saipan Casino|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/muhammadcohen/2018/02/07/one-of-hong-kongs-richest-women-cui-lijie-is-losing-her-bet-on-saipan-casino/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402224346/https://www.forbes.com/sites/muhammadcohen/2018/02/07/one-of-hong-kongs-richest-women-cui-lijie-is-losing-her-bet-on-saipan-casino/|archive-date=April 2, 2020|access-date=2020-07-03|website=Forbes|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Cohen|first=Muhammad|date=March 1, 2017|title=Macau Comes To America On Pacific Island Saipan|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/muhammadcohen/2017/03/01/macau-comes-to-america-on-pacific-island-saipan/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423135756/https://www.forbes.com/sites/muhammadcohen/2017/03/01/macau-comes-to-america-on-pacific-island-saipan/|archive-date=April 23, 2019|access-date=2020-07-03|website=Forbes|language=en}}
= Casino controversies =
In 2017, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided the construction site of Imperial Pacific's casino in Saipan over a "federal violation of the workplace visa system" following the death of a construction worker in March 2017.{{Cite news|last=Campbell|first=Matthew|date=March 30, 2017|title=FBI Visits Office of Saipan Casino Run by Trump Protege|work=Bloomberg News|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-30/fbi-agents-visit-office-of-saipan-casino-run-by-trump-protege|url-status=live|access-date=July 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327065305/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-30/fbi-agents-visit-office-of-saipan-casino-run-by-trump-protege|archive-date=March 27, 2019}}{{Cite news|last=Campbell|first=Matthew|last2=Farrell|first2=Greg|date=April 1, 2017|title=FBI Makes Arrest Related to Saipan Casino Construction|work=Bloomberg News|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-01/fbi-makes-arrest-in-connection-with-saipan-casino-construction|url-status=live|access-date=July 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403121450/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-01/fbi-makes-arrest-in-connection-with-saipan-casino-construction|archive-date=April 3, 2017}}{{Cite news|last=Campbell|first=Matthew|date=February 15, 2018|title=A Chinese Casino Has Conquered a Piece of America|work=Bloomberg Businessweek|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-02-15/a-chinese-company-has-conquered-a-piece-of-america|url-status=live|access-date=July 3, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180216203807/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-02-15/a-chinese-company-has-conquered-a-piece-of-america|archive-date=February 16, 2018}} Construction workers from a subsidiary of state-owned China Metallurgical Group Corporation were unlawfully employed on the island to build the casino.{{Cite news|last=Campbell|first=Matthew|last2=Wei|first2=Daniela|date=April 10, 2017|title=Human Smuggling, Money Laundering Probes Surround Saipan Casino|work=Bloomberg News|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-10/human-smuggling-money-laundering-probes-surround-saipan-casino|url-status=live|access-date=July 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008180449/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-10/human-smuggling-money-laundering-probes-surround-saipan-casino|archive-date=October 8, 2019}} In April 2017, Bloomberg News reported that the United States Department of Justice was investigating Imperial Pacific for money laundering. The FBI executed search warrants on Imperial Pacific's offices in Saipan again in March 2018.{{Cite news|last=Campbell|first=Matthew|last2=Ha|first2=K Oanh|date=March 14, 2018|title=Saipan Casino Operator Raided by U.S. Agents|work=Bloomberg News|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-14/saipan-casino-operator-is-said-to-be-raided-by-u-s-agents|url-status=live|access-date=July 3, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180315001525/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-14/saipan-casino-operator-is-said-to-be-raided-by-u-s-agents|archive-date=March 15, 2018}}
In April 2019, the United States Department of Labor secured a $3.3 million judgment against Imperial Pacific for wage and overtime violations.{{Cite news|date=April 27, 2019|title=USDOL secures $3.3M judgment against casino developer|work=The Guam Daily Post|url=https://www.postguam.com/news/cnmi/usdol-secures-m-judgment-against-casino-developer/article_b93b96f8-67ec-11e9-bef2-cfc3b41185cd.html|url-status=live|access-date=July 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703074252/https://www.postguam.com/news/cnmi/usdol-secures-m-judgment-against-casino-developer/article_b93b96f8-67ec-11e9-bef2-cfc3b41185cd.html|archive-date=July 3, 2019}} In September 2019, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit against Imperial Pacific for sexual harassment and discrimination.{{Cite news|last=De La Torre|first=Ferdie|date=September 25, 2019|title=EEOC files suit vs IPI for sexual harassment, sex discrimination|work=Saipan Tribune|url=https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/eeoc-files-suit-vs-ipi-for-sexual-harassment-sex-discrimination/|url-status=live|access-date=July 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211200934/https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/eeoc-files-suit-vs-ipi-for-sexual-harassment-sex-discrimination/|archive-date=December 11, 2019}}
In November 2019, the FBI raided the offices of Imperial Pacific for evidence of money laundering and wire fraud, and a federal grand jury subpoenaed the company regarding a corruption probe involving links with Northern Mariana Islands governor Ralph Torres.{{Cite news|last=Aguon|first=Mindy|date=November 8, 2019|title=FBI raids Saipan governor's office, casino operator|work=The Guam Daily Post|url=https://www.postguam.com/news/local/fbi-raids-saipan-governors-office-casino-operator/article_d8a5d926-0130-11ea-add7-13f9496bb78e.html|url-status=live|access-date=July 3, 2020|archive-date=August 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823235603/https://www.postguam.com/news/local/fbi-raids-saipan-governors-office-casino-operator/article_d8a5d926-0130-11ea-add7-13f9496bb78e.html}}{{Cite news|last=Aguon|first=Mindy|date=November 14, 2019|title=Feds seek evidence of wire fraud, money laundering investigation in CNMI|work=The Guam Daily Post|url=https://www.postguam.com/news/local/feds-seek-evidence-of-wire-fraud-money-laundering-investigation-in/article_3ed83cae-0693-11ea-853d-9fa7e337c95c.html|url-status=live|access-date=July 3, 2020|archive-date=August 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823235603/https://www.postguam.com/news/local/feds-seek-evidence-of-wire-fraud-money-laundering-investigation-in/article_3ed83cae-0693-11ea-853d-9fa7e337c95c.html}}{{Cite news|last=Encinares|first=Erwin|date=November 15, 2019|title=Grand jury summons out|work=Saipan Tribune|url=https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/grand-jury-summons-out/|url-status=live|access-date=July 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205035847/https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/grand-jury-summons-out/|archive-date=December 5, 2019}}
In March 2020, Imperial Pacific disclosed that the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network was probing it for possible violations of the Bank Secrecy Act.{{Cite news|last=De La Torre|first=Ferdie|date=May 29, 2020|title=FinCEN sees apparent violations at casino|work=Saipan Tribune|url=https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/fincen-sees-apparent-violations-at-casino/|url-status=live|access-date=July 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626144442/https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/fincen-sees-apparent-violations-at-casino/|archive-date=June 26, 2020}} In June 2020, the Commonwealth Casino Commission of the Northern Mariana Islands announced that it was seeking to suspend Imperial Pacific's casino license for non-payment of money owed to a community benefit fund.{{Cite news|last=Erediano|first=Emmanuel T.|date=June 5, 2020|title=Casino commission seeks suspension of IPI license over unpaid community chest fund|work=Marianas Variety|url=https://www.mvariety.com/cnmi-local/73-local/4220-casino-commission-seeks-suspension-of-ipi-license-over-unpaid-community-chest-fund|url-status=live|access-date=July 3, 2020|archive-date=August 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823235618/https://www.mvariety.com/cnmi-local/73-local/4220-casino-commission-seeks-suspension-of-ipi-license-over-unpaid-community-chest-fund}}
See also
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cui, Lijie}}
Category:Hong Kong casino industry businesspeople
Category:Hong Kong billionaires