New allegations cast doubts over Skyline Investment here
ALLEGATIONS of fraud has emerged, casting serious doubts over the credibility and genuineness of an Asian company that has offered to invest millions of dollar in tourism and real estate projects here.
Little-known Skyline Investment Group Company Ltd has promised the Sogavare government it will rehabilitate Henderson International Airport, upgrade the road from Henderson to Point Cruz, and invest in the tourism industry.
The Government has also engaged Skyline Investment Group to build a proposed 5,000 homes in Honiara for public servants.
But in a widely circulated email sent to various Mainland Chinese embassies in the Pacific, as well as media organisations, it alleged directors of Skyline Investment Group Company Ltd have defrauded more than 50,000 Chinese investors since September last year.
The email, sent out by one of the alleged victims, claimed directors of this company used fake virtual coin investment and fake property development from Fiji and Solomon Islands to scam investors.
The email requested Mainland Chinese embassies in Australia and Mexico, as well as police in Fiji and Solomon Islands, to arrest one of Skyline’s directors Jason Liu, and send him back to China.
Government insiders have told the Solomon Star the Sogavare government has been warned of Skyline Group when its directors first came to Honiara early this year.
But it’s clear that advice has not been taken aboard.
In Fiji, where Skyline Investment landed last year, the Asian firm has offered to set up a Noni fruit factory in Vanua Levu, develop real estate, and help boost Fiji’s tourism economy through resort investment.
It’s unclear how far they’ve gone with their proposed investments in Fiji.
One of the directors of Skyline, Pan Yanbing, spoke to the Solomon Star from Fiji yesterday on mobile phone.
He dismissed the widely circulated email, describing it as work of those trying to tarnish their reputation.
“We are operating a housing estate in Fiji and currently constructing a building at Navua,” he said.
“So I don’t know who this email is referring to because we are genuine investors,” he added.
“We are currently operating in Fiji and now we are doing groundwork in the Solomon Islands to invest there.
“I will be in Solomon Islands probably in two weeks’ time so I will talk to you then,” he told the Solomon Star.
In Honiara, Skyline Investment had set up an office at the Hyundai Mall.
But no one has been manning the office and attempts by the Solomon Star to speak to its representatives here were not possible.
Those working in next door offices told the Solomon Star Skyline Investment office at the mall has not been opened since the company occupied the room.
Special Secretary to the Prime Minister Rence Sore yesterday declined to comment on the allegations against Skyline Investment, stating he cannot speak for the company or its directors.
He could not say whether the Government did a background check on Skyline Investment before deciding to deal with them.
Mr Sore is one of the directors of Solomon Islands Development Corporation (SIDC), the partnership company that will build the public service housing project.
His directorship has been a subject of wide public criticisms in recent weeks.
Company Haus records showed four separate businesses with the name Skyline that were registered this year under the names of Jason Liu Tao and his Chinese associates, a Fijian, Mr Sore, and Commerce minister William Marau.
The four companies are: Skyline Investment Group Limited, Skyline Seafood Group Limited, Skyline Motors and Hardware Group Limited, and Skyline Industrial Group Limited.
Mr Marau is a director in Skyline Motors and Hardware Group Limited.
The Opposition Group said if the allegations are true, this would be an international embarrassment for the Sogavare Government.
By AATAI JOHN
