Complaint Review: Ecotras Airlines SPRL - Kinshasa Select State/Province

As a South African businessman I have fallen victim to the "incredible business opportunities" that are now offered to people in this country that would like to explore business in the rest of Africa.

I have met almost 18 months ago in South Africa a businessman from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - dr Jean Robert Tshibangu that claimed that he owned and operated a DRC based airline by the name Ecotras Airlines SPRL.

On his DRC passport he is indicated as a medical doctor (obstetrician). He claims to have studied in Canada and Europe. He is a pleasant, charismatic person and in a careful, modest way and confided to those around him that he has a special relationship with the current president of the DRC as well as with several well-known international statesmen.

The reason for him being in South Africa was to acquire new aircraft, either by direct purchase or "dry lease". He also stated that his existing Russian built aircraft were no longer allowed to operate in the DRC and/or that it would be expensive to have it complying with the new aviation regulations.

To prove that he has the capacity fo buy planes in South Africa, he showed a bank account of his company, Ecotras SPRL, that reflected a 4million USD balance and stated that there was another 2 million USD at another bank in the DRC.

He was also proud to show pictures of a modern residence in Kinshasa, DRC which he claimed belonged to him and was currently leased to the United Nations. Mention was was also made of him owning 2 diamond plots in Tshikapa region of the DRC, an area internationally renowned for the quality of its diamonds. Bottom line - a well-to-do, educated, connected African.

The only "small problem" the peasant dr Tshibangu seemed to have was someone that could help him set up the structures in South Africa, and support him and his family of 4 other members for a while until his funds arrive in South Africa.

When I met him during June 2009 it would appear as if there was already some South Africans that previously assisted him, but dr. Tshibangu confided in me that they were exploitative and or incompetent in one sense or the other. 

Under these circumstances, and in view of my knowledge of South African company structures, I offered my services. The relationship quickly progresesed to one of mutual trust and friendship. He offered me a directorship in a South African logistics company he created - Ecotras Airlines (Pty) Ltd and a 15% success fee when the funds would arrive from the DRC. My salary was also negotiated at 10,000 USD per month as soon as the company became operational.

The only "small problem" seemed to be that Ecotras SPRL needed to renew its airlcraft license in the DRC, but thanks to the new professional support the good doctor was confident that we would be flying, figuratively as well as litterally, very shortly. 

In the mean time I started to support him and his whole family - to the extend that I obtained a good residential premises that he and his family could occupy. i also gave him pocket money and bought furniture and groceries. 

He also used my office premises for his administration and international phone calls, stating that other opportunities like mining and fisheries could also be exploited in the DRC and that he has a special mandate from the DRC government to approach potential investors. 

Payments and expenses escalated. There always seemed to be only one small remaining problem why the money cannot be transferred and that we can start doing business. In the mean time several South African aircraft operators were approached with the view of leasing / purchasing planes and I participated in the negotiations and the agreements.

I also bought return flight tickets for Dr. Tshibangu on 3 occasions to fly to the DRC to expedite matters, whilst all the times caring for his family. After 6 months of fruitless efforts and 3 failed agreements with willing South African operators, I started to impress on Dr. Tshibangu that matters were urgent and that I was spensing too much time, money and other resourses on this venture. He always managed to reassure me that success is a few weeks away.

During his first flight out of the country (August 2009) the South African Home Affairs authority detected irregularities in his South African VISA documents and cancelled it - he was designated an Undesirable Person. Thanks to my knowlege I went to work and convinced the authorities by formal application that he was a bona fide businessman and the restriction was revoked 2 months later with the request that a proper work VISA application should be lodged. Naturally, I raised to this challenge and secured a 2 year Work VISA for the good doctor on the basis that he is a bona fide businessman.

Dr Tshibangu also claimed that Ecotras Airlines enjoyed a special tax dispensation in the DRC and that, because of this, there would be heavy penalties if the money could not be transferred in a special way.

During the last effort (July 2010) he even made the ridiculous promise that he will return with the funds one way or the other, even if it means getting a Cheque from the DRC government itself.

When he returned from the DRC 1 month later he stated that Belgian Officials went to the DRC and are now charged with clearing the funds. They were supposedly in contact with him during this time and their report was positive - he could however not give me their business cards.

I became restless because of the complete lack of progress and did some research of my own. It then appeared that Ecotras Airlines had an aircraft operation license for only 3 months in 2003 and that this license was summarily revoked by the authority for not paying paltry service fees. The current bank statements showing a balance of 4 million USD and claiming to be proceeds of the operations could therefore not possibly be true.

2 Days later he stated that the misterious Belgian officials were not positive any more in clearing the funds and that we should explore the avenue of smaller loans against the funds.

At that stage, and after spending almost 18 months and more that 35,000 USD on expenses, the relationship ended. Dr Tshibungu claimed he was a "good Christian" and would like to refund my expenses. He asked me to invoice his company and I had it delivered to him by one of my staff members. That was the last I heard of him, no acknowledgement or final words.

He has subsequently got other South Africans onboard and continues with the same modus operandi.

The end result for me - 18 months of wasted time and energy, 3 aircraft operators agreements that were reneged on and more than 35,000 USD expenses, the latter causing me now financial distress. Not 1 cent in return.

The reason for me posting this is to warn any person dealing with this company or person to be extremely careful, as everything will be "smoke and mirrors" and you will not be useful to the good doctor once your funding is not sufficient anymore.