Fugitive Hong Kong charity director sued in US over real estate ‘shell game’
Complaint alleges Jacob Lam, founder of scandal-hit charity, defrauded developer of over a year’s services and costs
A wanted director of a scandal-hit Hong Kong charity who fled the city is facing a sweeping 14-count civil lawsuit in the United States over an alleged multimillion-dollar property scheme that the plaintiff described as a “shell game”.
In a complaint for damages and equitable relief seen by the South China Morning Post, developer Joseph Lee Daniell accused Jacob Lam Hay-sing, the founder and director of the now-defunct Hong Kong charity the Christian Zheng Sheng Association of defrauding him of more than a year’s worth of professional services and out-of-pocket expenses.
Other defendants named in the suit include the Christian Zheng Sheng Association US, New Day Horizons Group, Tim Lam, Andy Zeyong Zhang and Emily Moerdomo Fu.
Tim Lam is identified as Jacob Lam’s brother, while Zhang is his son-in-law.
According to the filing, Daniell began meeting the defendants in January 2025 over plans to develop a 298-hectare (736-acre) residential development on Little Sand Mountain in Chattooga County in the state of Georgia.
The site was marketed as a retreat and horse-based therapy centre, and Daniell began preparatory work on the land.
In July 2025, he signed a preliminary letter of intent with Tim Lam that would grant him a 50 per cent ownership stake in the property and an equal share of future cash flow, among other interests.