Supermarket owner released from jail

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 21 August 2018, 12:00AM

The owner of the Princessa chain of Supermarkets, Zhu Jian Chen, has been released from jail after paying off his debt. 

His brief imprisonment is in connection to a warrant of committal that ordered him to pay $107,171.70 to Chan Mow Company Limited. 

The committal warrant was issued last Friday which led to the arrest of Chen and his release the next day after paying his debt. 

The case was confirmed by Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration, Chief Executive Officer Papali’i John Taimalelagi, in response to questions from the Samoa Observer. 

“Mr Chen paid off the debt in full amount and was released on Saturday.

“If the debt was not paid in full, there was no way we would allow for the notice to release Mr Chen, from jail,” he said.  

Repeated phone calls and messages left for Mr Chen for a comment were not returned at the time of going to press.  

According to the committal warrant that was issued by the District Court and signed off by a Deputy Court Registrar, it indicated that this is the second order issued on this particular matter. 

“By an order bearing the date 13 July, 2017 and issued out of his court, it was ordered that unless the above named judgment debtor (Mr Chen) should pay this court at Mulinu’u the amount of $107,171.70, he should be committed to Prison for 36 weeks,” stated the committal warrant.

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 21 August 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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