‘Frothing mouth’ blackmail gang jailed

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October 15, 2014

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By Ke Jiayun | October 15, 2014, Wednesday |

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A GANG of blackmailers who pretended to suffer reactions to treatment in illegal clinics in order to extort cash, were jailed yesterday.

Members of the nine-strong team of fraudsters received prison sentences of up to a year at the Pudong New Area People’s Court.

They would pose as patients and then act out adverse reactions to treatment, including frothing at the mouth, the court heard.

On on May 11, two gang members entered an unlicensed clinic owned by a man surnamed Ni in a village in Pudong, the court heard.

The “patient” was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection by Ni and demanded an intravenous drip.

However, soon after the intravenous drip was connected the man began frothing at the mouth and convulsing.

When the patient’s friend told Ni that this was an allergic reaction, the clinic owner accompanied them to hospital.

Ni stayed outside while the men apparently went into the hospital.

Other gang members waiting outside with Ni told him to pay them 5,000 yuan (US$816) or they would call the police.

After they got the money, the “sick man” emerged, looking in good health, the court heard.

When the gang repeated the blackmail again three days later in another clinic, they were held by police at the scene.

According to the court, the gang made 12,372 yuan from four local unlicensed clinics.

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