Hou Xuecheng, a 47-year-old Chinese businessman previously linked to high-profile wildlife trafficking, appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court for the second time on Thursday. Hou faces a charge of assault by threat, following allegations that he threatened to kill Chinese businesswoman Stina Wu on November 20, 2024.
The incident, which reportedly took place in Windhoek, led to Hou’s arrest on November 28. During his first court appearance in early December, bail was initially denied after State prosecutor Adrie Jo-Anne Rickerts argued that releasing Hou would endanger the investigation. Rickerts cited Hou as a flight risk and expressed concerns about his potential to interfere with witnesses or commit further crimes.
Despite the State’s objections, Hou was later granted bail of N$10,000 on December 24, subject to stringent conditions. He is required to report twice weekly to the Windhoek Police Station and must avoid all contact with the complainant. His firearms, a pistol and a rifle, were surrendered to law enforcement. Hou is also prohibited from leaving Windhoek without written approval from the investigating officer and is barred from applying for travel documents while the case is pending.
Hou’s legal troubles are not new. Over the years, he has made headlines for his alleged involvement in the illegal trade of endangered wildlife products. In 2014, Hou was arrested in Windhoek with elephant tusks weighing 54 kilograms and valued at nearly N$600,000. He was also charged with unlawfully possessing cheetah and leopard skins, zebra hides, a pangolin skin, and even a stuffed leopard head, all without permits.
Furthermore, Hou has been accused of exporting endangered Rosewood trees without authorization, an operation believed to have significant environmental impacts. Many of these cases have been marred by procedural delays, including the absence of key witnesses and interpreters, which have allowed Hou to evade conviction in some instances.
The court has postponed the matter to March 6, 2025, while Hou’s bail remains active under close supervision.