Images have emerged of angry investors grabbing the head of a Chinese exchange that trades minor metals and dragging him to police.
The Financial Times reported this weekend that a mob that had been protesting outside the Fanya Metals Exchange for several weeks abducted Shan Jiuliang as he checked out of his luxury hotel in Shanghai.
They bundled him into a car and took him to the nearest police station, where officers took him into custody and promised to investigate what has happened to investors' money.
Jiuliang was later released without charge.
The Financial Times said (behind a paywall) the dispute was caused by investor anger over the freezing of their funds:
"Investors have been protesting for weeks after the Fanya Metals Exchange in July ceased making payments on financial investment products. The exchange, based in the southwestern city of Kunming, bought and stockpiled minor metals such as indium and bismuth, while also offering high interest, highly-liquid investment products from its offices in Shanghai and its financing branch in Kunming. Troubles at the exchange are one of many factors contributing to turbulence in China's financial markets, as a slowing economy exposes the weaknesses of the country's debt-driven growth."
Fanya denounced the protesters' actions on its website: "Violent acts against president Shan and our employees or the disturbance of our work are destructive of our work around solving the crisis. This will only allow forces behind the scenes to profit and will greatly harm interests of all members."