Chinese media outlet Caixin files lawsuits accusing tycoon Guo Wengui of libel

A prominent mainland media outlet said today it has filed lawsuits in both Beijing and Hong Kong accusing tycoon Guo Wengui and two companies that he controls of libel.

Last month, mainland news outlets Caixin, Tencents and Caijing magazine published lengthy reports about Guo, the controlling shareholder of Beijing Zenith Holdings and Beijing Pangu Investment, accusing him of conspiring with government officials to gain wealth.

In response, Guo issued a statement on Zenith’s website, denying some of the allegations in the reports. He also made accusations against Caixin and its chief editor, Hu Shuli.

Several Hong Kong newspapers ran reports, including Apple Daily and the Hong Kong Commercial Daily.

Caixin previously said that it had reported the matter to the police and would sue Guo and two Hong Kong newspapers for libel.

In a statement posted on Caixin’s website today, the company claimed that the behaviour of Zenith, Pangu Investment and Guo “not only infringed Caixin and Hu’s legal rights, but also were suspected of damaging [Caixin’s] commercial reputation and libel”.

It said it had employed lawyers in Beijing, Hong Kong and the United States to bring legal proceedings against the three parties.

It has filed a lawsuit against them in Beijing, demanding that they be held civilly and criminally responsible.

Another lawsuit has been filed to the Hong Kong High Court, in which Caixin demanded that they pay compensation to Caixin and Hu for the alleged damage and spread of slander.

Caixin's lawyers have also sent letters to Hong Kong Commercial Daily, Apple Daily, and news websites Boxun.com and Bjd.com.cn, in which it demanded they stop what it claimed was the spread of slander.

Relevant reports have been removed from their websites.