A German Company Discovers The True Meaning Of "Ripped-Off"

A Shockingly Interesting And Extremely Cautionary Tale From China

Jamil Anderlini, in the Financial Times, published on July 27 2009, presented an article entitled “A cautionary tale from China“. 

Well, as you know I live and breathe in China, and so felt more than a little compelled to read the article. What I first noticed, after having read it, was how quiet the Chinese media had kept it – no surprises there I guess. My next thought was, how dumb the victim, one Mr. Klaus Hilligardt, had been by entrusting his personal life, money, and home, and more particularly his business into the hands of his chosen Chinese managers; not a particularly wise move, as you will discover as the story unfolds. The victim had his whole company stolen from under his very nose. I mean the guy didn't even have absence from China as an excuse, as he was resident here for virtually all of the time preceding the eventual disappearance of his company. 

Victims aren't made - they're born! 

 

And this is a point I keep trying to make to those of you who read me here, and to those of you who email me in the hope that I can get your money back, and which you just kind-of gave away to someone on the other side of the planet. OOPS! Basically, the Chinese management team of this company, which runs all the major advertising hoardings in China, predominantly on the underground, and national rail lines, set up there own ghost company, which included a logo not unlike the actual company they worked for; the senior Chinese manager, then sold the rights to the new company to take all their clients, and establish themselves as the new market leaders, using money from the victim's own company to do so, whilst still being paid a salary from the victim's company - I MEAN, SHAME JUST HAS NOWHERE TO HIDE IT'S FACE IN SHAME!

 

This is assault, battery, rape, and then being peed and shat on for extra measure, before being poked in the eye with a pointy stick, just when you thought it was all over. 

In the end, the German managers from the parent company flew over to China, and ran a raid with the police, on the offices, into which the Chinese management had barricaded themselves, before arresting them and hauling them of for intense questioning. 

Now, why am I telling you about this? Just because it happened in China? 

No! I'm telling you because the victim had several years of experience in Asian countries, but failed to learn the language, or the culture, and allowed himself to be walked up the garden path and given a damned good seeing to under the shady apple tree behind the garden shed. 

My point? Very simple. You need me. 

China has been my home for the past 11 years, and has been a better home to me than my native England, in many ways, and I am very grateful to her for that.  

But still, this is the Wild-East folks, and you greenhorns gotta watch out for Los Banditos Chino, because they can be pretty mean Hombres to deal with. 

Safe Trading! 

Here's a link to the original article for which you may have to sign up to a free membership to read: www.ft.com