Wong Kwong-yu, the billionaire businessman whose detention nine months ago triggered Guangdong's biggest corruption scandal in years, may be languishing in police custody but his nine-month detention has not curbed his wheeling and dealing.
Mr Wong was detained by the Beijing Public Security Bureau in November on suspicion of 'economic crimes'. Since then, almost a dozen prominent mainlanders - top Guangdong law enforcement officials, the mayor of Shenzhen, a gambling ship operator tied to triads - have been arrested or detained in connection with the case.
At the same time, while being held in an undisclosed location, Mr Wong (known as Huang Guangyu on the mainland) has been buying and selling millions of Gome shares. In the process, he's beaten back attempts to dilute his ownership in the giant electrical-appliance retailer he founded in 1987.
In a country where arrest does not usually come with executive privileges - where tycoons fall out of sight and their empires collapse - Mr Wong's continued ability to do business is a rare exception. And he's earned it by co-operating with the authorities.
A central government official close to the investigations said Mr Wong had provided a great deal of detail about corruption by government officials, including Chen Shaoji, Guangdong's former police chief.
'Wong has talked a lot more than expected during the probe into him,' the official said.
In return, Mr Wong has been given privileges not accorded to other detainees.