On Thursday, 25 June 2026 the English High Court granted a possession order in respect of the non-demised parts of a c. Β£100 million office block in the City of London.
The possession order was made in proceedings permitted to be issued in the High Court by Chief Master Shuman, in favour of the Provisional Liquidators of Noble Title Ltd (a BVI company), the registered proprietor, against the occupying persons unknown. In granting the order, Mr Justice Leech dismissed the challenge brought to the Courtβs jurisdiction advanced on behalf of the ultimate beneficial owner of Noble Title Ltd, Mr Chen Zhi.
Noble Title Ltd is alleged by the US and UK Governments to be part of a transnational criminal organisation operated through the Prince Group, which includes companies in the BVI, the Cayman Islands, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The Prince Group of companies, and its chairman, Mr Zhi, have been sanctioned by the UK Government under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020. Mr Zhi has also been indicated to the United District Court for the Eastern District of New York on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering and the US Department of Justice has filed a civil complaint, seeking forfeiture of approx. $15 billion of Bitcoin, alleged to be the proceeds of traceable criminal activity. The US Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions against 146 targets within the Prince Group, including Mr Zhi, in addition to 117 entities and individuals which were designated as part of what OFAC contends is the Prince Groupβs transnational criminal enterprise, including Noble Title Ltd.
The Provisional Liquidators (Paul Pretlove FCCA FABRP FIPA and David Standish of Interpath) were appointed by order of the BVI High Court on the application of the Attorney General of the BVI.
Ian Clarke KC and Simon McLoughlin acted on behalf of the Provisional Liquidators, instructed by David Johnson, Trevor Mascarenhas, Georgie C. and Olga Hansen (nee Pancova) of PCB Byrne LLP.
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