A large tract of land in Chattooga County has become the focus of an international legal dispute tied to a Hong Kong charity scandal and a multimillion-dollar development proposal.

The lawsuit was filed in Chattooga County Superior Court by developer Joseph Lee Daniell against several defendants connected to the now-defunct Christian Zheng Sheng Association, a Hong Kong charity that has been linked to an ongoing financial scandal overseas.

According to court filings, the dispute centers on approximately 736 acres on Little Sand Mountain in Chattooga County. The property was reportedly being marketed as a retreat and horse-based therapy center, with plans for a large residential development.

The lawsuit alleges that Jacob Lam, a former director of the charity, along with other defendants, engaged in a scheme involving the ownership and transfer of the property. Daniell claims he spent more than a year working on development plans and financing efforts after being promised a significant ownership stake in the project.

Court records cited in the lawsuit allege that the property was transferred between entities for $1 without Daniell’s knowledge, despite previous agreements regarding the project’s future development. The complaint further alleges that the transfer jeopardized financing efforts and ultimately caused the proposed project to collapse.

The legal battle comes after Hong Kong authorities placed Jacob Lam and other charity officials on a wanted list following allegations that millions of dollars intended for charitable purposes were misappropriated. The Christian Zheng Sheng Association previously operated programs serving young people recovering from drug addiction.

Daniell is seeking damages and asking the court to void the property transfer and recognize his claimed ownership interest in the development venture. The allegations contained in the lawsuit have not yet been proven in court.

The case has drawn attention both locally and internationally because of the connection between the Chattooga County property and the broader controversy surrounding the Hong Kong charity organization.