(Yicai Global) Jan. 2 -- A unit of Chinese logistics giant SF Holding has won a lawsuit regarding Ofo's pending payments to collect what belongs to it from the embattled bike-sharer's bank account while thousands of customers are still waiting for their deposit refunds.

The People's Court of Bao'an District in Shenzhen ruled that SF Integrated Logistics Service has won the case against Dongxia Datong Beijing Management Consulting, the operator of Ofo, which means that Dongxia will have to pay CNY13.75 million (USD2 million) to SF, as well as interest from Sept. 1, official legal information site China Judgments Online reported on Dec. 28.

Ofo's liquidity crunch intensified when nearly ten million users showed up at its headquarters in Beijing to demand refunds regarding deposits worth CNY99 or CNY199 (USD14 to USD29) as of Dec. 18. This tally may amount to CNY1.9 billion (USD275.5 million) in total. Meanwhile, the vehicle-sharing firm has extended its refund policy to 15 days from ten while customers have complained that they have not gotten their money back even after one month. 

Shenzhen-based SF filed an application to freeze Dongxia's assets at China Merchants Bank on Oct. 15 last year, the same legal website reported on Dec. 30. Four days later in October, Ofo replaced founder Dai Wei by Chen Zhengjiang as its legal representative, explaining the shift as part of normal personnel changes. A Beijing court restricted Dai's ability to splurge since early December so that the entrepreneur cannot book business class tickets for flights or trains nor buy property or vehicles. 

SF delivered dockless Ofo bikes to the streets of 15 Chinese provinces and 36 cities in six months, according to its earnings report in 2017.

Editor: Emmi Laine