Tvind's 'crown prince' cosies up to the Danish government

Simon Lichtenberg (right) with the Danish Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, 2004

In March 2000, the Danish newspaper Berlingske Tidende revealed that a Shanghai furniture company, Trayton, was receiving huge sums of money from the Danish public purse. The paper disclosed that the Danish-run company was part of the Tvind organisation and its boss, Simon Lichtenberg, was the 'Crown Prince' of Tvind - the man most likely to take over as Teachers Group leader.

The Danish government was deeply embarrassed. It was giving money to Tvind - the very same dubious organisation it was trying to outlaw because of abuse of public funds, that was under investigation for fraud by the Danish police, and that was regarded as a grave security risk. Government ministers issued statements dissociating themselves and the Danish embassy in Beijing apologised for its mistake.

But has anything changed...the Tvind organisation is determined to make itself look respectable and is continuing with a charm offensive in China as if nothing has happened. And have senior Danish politicians fallen for it? Judge for yourself. Above, Lichtenberg with Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen at a Beijing trade fair in 2004.

Below, Lichtenberg with other figures: