A group of people gathered on the rooftop of the Shanxi Shuozhou Development and Reform Commission building this morning, threatening to jump. Chinese authorities stated that the 12 individuals were investors who lost money after their investment company’s boss “ran away,” and they hoped the government would help recover their losses. The 12 have since come down from the roof and are in communication with local government officials, temporarily resolving the crisis.
According to Xinhua News Agency, at around 10:00 a.m. today, 12 people appeared on the rooftop of the Shanxi Shuozhou Development and Reform Commission building, threatening to jump en masse.
The Publicity Department of the Shuozhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China said that preliminary information indicates these 12 individuals had invested funds with the Shanxi Helie Venture Capital Investment Co., Ltd. However, after the company’s head, Ma Aibin, went missing in November 2014, they suffered significant financial losses and sought government assistance in recovering their money.
The Oriental Daily News further reported that Ma Aibin was the nephew-in-law of the director of the Shanxi Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the head of the Bulk Cement Office under the Shuozhou Development and Reform Commission, and one of the investors in Shanxi Helie Venture Capital Investment Co., Ltd. He absconded on November 4 last year with 180 million yuan (over 900 million New Taiwan dollars).
By 1:00 p.m., the 12 individuals had entered a meeting room inside the city’s Development and Reform Commission building, where local government officials and relevant departments were in discussions with them.
After the incident occurred, local government authorities, police, and firefighters rushed to the scene to communicate with those on the roof and implemented appropriate safety measures. 1040104
(CNA)