Chinese Fine Art Import-Export Company Owner Sentenced to 13 years in Prison

On March 1, Beijing Second Intermediate People’s Court (市二中院) sentenced the head of an import-export company to 13 years in prison. Xinmin Li, the owner and general manager of both Noah Intercontinental Fine Art Import & Export (Beijing) Company and Noah Intercontinental Transportation, was sentenced on charges of smuggling and tax evasion, and faces CNY130 million in fines.

According to a report published by China’s Xin Hua News Agency, Li had been evading taxes and smuggling antiques and artifacts for four years prior to his arrest. He was regularly submitting Customs documents indicating prices much lower than the actual prices.

Li was charged with evading CNY123 million in taxes.

Three accomplices in their 20s were also indicted in the crime; one of them faces a four-year sentence, and the other two face a three-year one.

 Jessica Zhang