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Entrapment probe goes citywide
By Zha Minjie |
October 30, 2009, Friday
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Print Edition
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SHANGHAI government said yesterday it was pursuing its investigation into entrapment tactics used in the Pudong New Area in a campaign against illegal taxis and will probe complaints of similar misconduct in other parts of the city.
Municipal government spokesman Chen Qiwei said in his regular weekly press conference that the investigation will be handled "based on facts and according to regulations and laws."
"We will inform the public as soon as the investigation is concluded," he added.
His comments came in response to questions about two cases this week in which local authorities admitted they used improper investigative techniques in traffic law enforcement. He was also asked about a large number of motorists previously charged with "black-cab" offenses who descended on traffic authority offices in Pudong this week to claim they, too, were innocent of any wrongdoing and were victims of entrapment.
The city earlier announced a special task force led by a deputy mayor to study transport operations and standardize law enforcement.
The most notorious case involved 19-year-old Sun Zhongjie, who severed one of his little fingers in a fit of anger after he was charged with operating an illegal taxi service and the company vehicle he was driving was confiscated.
Sun said he simply acted as a good Samaritan by offering a lift to a pedestrian who begged for a ride. When his passenger jumped out of Sun's minibus and tossed some money inside, Sun was surrounded by traffic agents.
Pudong's urban management officials quickly cleared transport supervisors of any wrongdoing, but Pudong government later said traffic authorities had used entrapment and criticized the initial report for misleading the public.
Pudong government issued a notice on Wednesday aiming to solicit information from other drivers who believe they've been treated improperly.
"Drivers are advised to stay clam and address problems through legal means," the notice said.
Lawyers for several drivers charged with operating black cabs charge that authorities are paying bounty hunters to set up innocent drivers on false charges so they can collect fines.
Municipal government spokesman Chen Qiwei said in his regular weekly press conference that the investigation will be handled "based on facts and according to regulations and laws."
"We will inform the public as soon as the investigation is concluded," he added.
His comments came in response to questions about two cases this week in which local authorities admitted they used improper investigative techniques in traffic law enforcement. He was also asked about a large number of motorists previously charged with "black-cab" offenses who descended on traffic authority offices in Pudong this week to claim they, too, were innocent of any wrongdoing and were victims of entrapment.
The city earlier announced a special task force led by a deputy mayor to study transport operations and standardize law enforcement.
The most notorious case involved 19-year-old Sun Zhongjie, who severed one of his little fingers in a fit of anger after he was charged with operating an illegal taxi service and the company vehicle he was driving was confiscated.
Sun said he simply acted as a good Samaritan by offering a lift to a pedestrian who begged for a ride. When his passenger jumped out of Sun's minibus and tossed some money inside, Sun was surrounded by traffic agents.
Pudong's urban management officials quickly cleared transport supervisors of any wrongdoing, but Pudong government later said traffic authorities had used entrapment and criticized the initial report for misleading the public.
Pudong government issued a notice on Wednesday aiming to solicit information from other drivers who believe they've been treated improperly.
"Drivers are advised to stay clam and address problems through legal means," the notice said.
Lawyers for several drivers charged with operating black cabs charge that authorities are paying bounty hunters to set up innocent drivers on false charges so they can collect fines.
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