By Mohamed Mattia

A sustained and thorough investigation conducted over a period of time has uncovered what, from witness accounts and documents in our possession, is alleged to be a shocking case of corporate betrayal in Sierra Leone. Two private companies, Pioneer Industry Company SL Limited at Cline Town and Pioneer Power Engineering Company SL Limited at Mile 5, both built with years of hard work and investment by Zhang Ke and his wife, are now at the center of what evidence suggests to be serious fraud. Testimonies and records indicate that Zhou Wenjie is accused of using forgery and deceit to take control, destroying the legacy that took decades to build. These findings point to more than just a business dispute but a story of deep betrayal and criminal manipulation.

Zhang Ke, a respected Chinese entrepreneur who devoted more than two decades to Sierra Leone’s economic activity, invested his resources, land and expertise into building the two companies from the ground up. From witness statements and documents reviewed, it is claimed that following his return to China in 2019 to battle cancer, Zhou Wenjie, who had been serving as General Manager, launched a calculated campaign to seize control. Evidence gathered suggests that in January 2022, Zhou Wenjie diverted revenue from Pioneer Industry Company SL Limited’s oxygen plant into Pioneer Power Engineering Company SL Limited’s accounts without Board approval, a move described as the start of a systematic takeover.

According to documents examined, Zhou Wenjie is accused of orchestrating a signature forgery operation, using practice signature sheets found in the offices to falsify critical documents belonging to the rightful owners. Records further indicate that with these forged papers, Zhou Wenjie opened unauthorized accounts at Rokel Commercial Bank and Commercial Mortgage Bank, making himself the sole signatory and siphoning off substantial funds in both Leones and U.S. dollars. Client testimonies contend that Zhou Wenjie posed as “CEO,” signing contracts and diverting payments into fraudulent accounts under his exclusive control.

Family accounts and staff statements suggest that the scandal worsened after Zhang Ke’s death in December 2023, when his relatives discovered that both Pioneer Industry Company SL Limited and Pioneer Power Engineering Company SL Limited had been pushed to the brink of collapse under Zhou Wenjie’s irregular management. Eyewitnesses claim that employees and lawful tenants were forcibly removed from the Mile 5 property, land owned by Zhang Ke and his wife, in what has been described as a complete hijacking of their father’s life’s work.

Reports further assert that Zhou Wenjie is known to be a drug addict with a violent and intimidating temperament, creating a climate of fear among staff during his control of the companies.

Zhang Ke’s son and lawful heir, Zhang Jiakai, maintains that Zhou Wenjie’s actions amount to a ruthless exploitation of trust and a blatant theft of his father’s legacy. Based on the evidence reviewed, the Zhang family is pressing for a full audit of bank records at Rokel Commercial Bank’s and Commercial Mortgage Bank’s Lumley Branch and calling for prosecution of Zhou Wenjie for forgery and fraud under Section 349 of the Sierra Leone Penal Code.

Currently, the courts have frozen the companies’ accounts and placed an injunction on their operations, underscoring the seriousness of the accusations. Legal observers stress that this case represents more than a private dispute; it is a critical test of Sierra Leone’s justice system. Business analysts warn that failure to handle the matter with the seriousness it deserves could discourage foreign investors at a time when the Government is striving to attract international capital. They caution that allowing such criminal manipulation to go unpunished would send a dangerous message, ultimately undermining investment security and damaging Sierra Leone’s economic growth.

All efforts to contact Zhou Wenjie proved unsuccessful. However, should he choose to present his side of the story, it will be published in full.

 

 

 

 

 

  https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/exposed-zhou-wenjies-alleged-fraudulent-and-criminal-activities-revealed-in-shocking-investigation/