Justicia Shipena
The failure by China Town shop owner Li Bailong to pay court-ordered damages has led to his property being attached for sale by public auction to settle a claim brought by a former employee.
The High Court authorised the attachment of Bailong’s movable property after he failed to comply with a judgement ordering him to pay N$230 000, interest at 20% per year, and legal costs to Itakeya George.
The court found that Bailong violated George’s dignity by stripping her naked in full view of the public.
A writ of execution was issued and carried out on 27 January 2026 after Bailong failed to make payment despite being formally notified through his legal representatives.
On 27 January 2026, assistant deputy sheriff Hans Eimann attached a Toyota Hilux belonging to Bailong. The vehicle was removed and placed in storage pending a public auction.
The writ states that the vehicle must be sold to recover the judgement amount, interest calculated from 22 August 2025 and all taxed legal and sheriff’s costs.
Bailong attempted to challenge the ruling by filing a notice of appeal in September 2025, but Supreme Court records show that he failed to comply with procedural requirements, including filing the record of appeal and providing security.
In 2021, at Bailong’s shop, Bailong accused George, a shop assistant, of cutting a larger piece of textile for a customer than what the customer had paid for.
The court heard that Bailong dismissed George on the spot and told her to remove the work uniform he had given her.
George said she told him she had no other clothes to wear, but he suggested she cover herself with a cardboard box. She testified that he ordered her to remove the uniform in front of him, other employees and customers. A security guard later intervened, and Bailong then gave her a piece of fabric to cover herself before she left the shop.
Her dignity was violated and she was treated in a degrading and humiliating manner, George told the court.
In a counterclaim, Bailong alleged that George made false and defamatory statements when she later spoke to a television reporter about the incident.
He said in court that he was angry and frustrated when he made the cardboard box comment.
The attached property will be sold unless Bailong settles the outstanding amount before the auction process is completed.
