A Canada-wide arrest warrant has been issued for a former Calgary oil and gas executive charged with tax evasion and fraud in connection with consulting fees tied to Chinese investment in Canadian energy assets.

The Canada Revenue Agency says the warrant for Wentao Yang, now of Vancouver and formerly of Calgary, was issued July 13 after he repeatedly failed to appear in court.

Yang was charged in November 2025 with multiple counts of tax evasion and fraud, both personally and in his role as a director of Calgary-based Kailas Energy Corp.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Investigation linked to Panama Papers

The CRA said its investigation began after reviewing information published by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists as part of the Panama Papers.

Investigators allege Yang facilitated the acquisition of multiple Canadian oil and gas assets by investor groups based in China.

According to court records cited by the CRA, Yang failed to report consulting fee income during the 2015 and 2016 tax years, while Kailas Energy Corp. allegedly failed to report consulting fees during the 2015 tax year.

The agency alleges the money was moved through a series of transactions, including foreign bank accounts, before being deposited into Canadian bank accounts held by Yang and the company.

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Nine charges laid

The CRA says a total of nine charges were laid following the investigation.

The agency alleges the financial transactions were structured to obscure the origin of the funds.

The CRA said the case reflects its ongoing efforts to investigate offshore tax evasion and financial crimes involving complex international transactions.

CRA continues enforcement efforts

The agency said it remains committed to pursuing individuals and businesses that underreport income or engage in tax evasion.

The CRA encourages Canadians with information about suspected tax cheating, including offshore tax evasion, to report it through its enforcement programs.

If convicted, those charged could face financial penalties and other sanctions under Canada's tax laws.