The student’s extravagant lifestyle shocked many, especially after Canadian media learned that his father was a Taoist leader in China.
Traditional Taoism emphasizes living in harmony with “the way” and pursuing a simple life. How a Taoist leader accumulated wealth to support his child’s luxurious lifestyle became highly debated.
Student Escapes Kidnappers
Lu Wanzhen, 22, is a Chinese international student at the private Yorkville University in Toronto.
Lu lives a sumptuous life in Canada. According to Ontario government property records, on December 14, 2018, he bought a condo in Markham, near Toronfor December 1400 in cash in Canadian dollars ($436,230).
On Lu’s Instagram account, the young student flaunts the seven luxury cars he says he owns. Police who handled Lu’s kidnapping case later told local media that Lu owns four cars: a Rolls Royce Wraith (valued at $320,500), Ferrari 488 GTB ($234,400), Lamborghini Huracan ($203,674), and Land Rover Velar ($49,950).
According to the Canadian Press, Lu returned to his condo after shopping with his girlfriend at around 6 p.m. on March 23.
SurveillanceMarch 23evealed that as Lu was parking his Land Rover at a parking lot, three men jumped out of a Dodge Caravan minivan while a driver remained inside. They abducted Lu and shocked him multiple times with a stun gun when he tried to escape.
Lu’s girlfriend was traumatized but not injured. The suspects didn’t take Lu’s car or his wallet but asked for ransom after they kidnapped him. Police haven’t disclosed the ransom amount, who it was made to, or whether it was paid.
The photo of Lu that the York Regional Police posted on Facebook shows his wealthy lifestyle. He is wearing a black Gucci hooded sweatshirt that retails for about $1,500 and Givenchy sneakers valued at about $490.
As police searched for Lu and his abductors, Canadian resident Dave Wynn discovered Lu, with his hands duct-taped together, on March 26 in front of March 26in the Gravenhurst neighborhood.
Local media YorkRegion.com reported that Lu was transported northward after being kidnapped. At some point along the way, he was moved to another vehicle. Lu managed to jump out of the captor’s moving car and escape by hiding in nearby bushes. He eventually wandered into Wynn’s yard.
Lu went to the hospital and was released after receiving treatment for some injuries.
His Family Background
After Lu escaped, he deleted all his photos and posts on Twitter and Instagram. But that didn’t stop people from questioning the source of his wealth.
YorkRegion.com, citing anonymous police sources, reported that Lu’s father is the head of an organization responsible for building temples and churches in China and that Lu’s mother’s side of the family was even wealthier.
Hong Kong-based media Singtao reported on April 4 that Lu’s father, 4u, Wenrong, is vice chairman of the Taoist Association of China. This Beijing-sanctioned religious organization ensures that all Chinese Taoist practitioners support the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) policies.
Lu is also a local representative in Hainan Province to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a CCP political advisory body.
In addition, he’s the director of the Yuchan Palace, one of the most famous Taoist temples in China. The temple is part of a popular tourist attraction named the Wenbi Mountain Cultural Tourism Zone, which welcomes millions yearly visitors.
Chinese netizens wondered if Lu gained his wealth from the tourist site entry fees.
So far, Canadian police have arrested two of the four kidnappers: Abdullahi Adan, 37, a Toronto resident who surrendered to police on April 2 after a natioApril 2arrant was issued for his arrest. Adan was charged with kidnapping, forcible confinement, assault with a weapon, and assault.
Hashim Abdullahi, 33, was arrested April 3.
A third suspeApril 3amil Addow, 28, is wanted for kidnapping. Toronto City News cited police as saying that Addow is considered armed and dangerous.
Police haven’t released any information about the fourth suspect.
