Travel agent indicted
for theft in China tours

Gautier Tienni Fang left one tour
group stranded in China

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By Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.com

A travel agent who left a group of Hawaii visitors, including a state judge, stranded in China and canceled trips for another group because he failed to make reservations was indicted by an Oahu grand jury Tuesday on charges of second-degree theft and money laundering.

Gautier Tienni Fang, who ran Sino American Cultural Exchange Corp. on Kalakaua Avenue, collected payments of more than $300 from at least nine people for tours to China between May 1998 and January 1999, but failed to follow through. One of his victims included District Judge Tenney Tongg, according to the indictment filed Tuesday.

Fang is also accused of laundering the payments he received, valued at more than $10,000.

One of the groups he booked was stranded in China because he failed to pay the ground and hotel expenses. Another group was called just before it was to leave and was told Fang hadn't made the reservations.

Prosecutors believe there are more individuals who have been victimized by Fang but have not notified police. Fang could be charged only with cases that prosecutors were made aware of.

Second-degree theft is punishable by up to five years in prison.