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55 in court over scheme to make 'ant Viagra'
By Chen Xingjie |
May 27, 2009, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FIFTY-FIVE people are on trial over an ant farming scheme in northeast China's Liaoning Province.
Shenyang Intermediate People's Court began the hearing on Monday, the Xinhua news agency reported.
Wang Fengyou, the former president of Liaoning Yi°?lishen Tianxi Group, and the other 54 suspects face charges including contract fraud.
Wang launched the group in January 2003 with a capital of 100 million yuan (US$14.6 million). The group's nine subsidiary companies were engaged in manufacturing and selling the Yilishen branded ant-based tonic products, the court heard.
The tonics were described as "Chinese Viagra" and the ants were touted as being aphrodisiacs and ideal for use in liquor and herbal remedies.
The company organized thousands of ant farmers to supply it with insects on condition that they paid contractual bonds. But it stopped paying its suppliers in November 2007.
Thousands of farmers fearing they would lose their bonds and wages gathered at the company offices to demand payment.
The group entered bankruptcy on November 30, 2007. Prosecutors became involved and filed charges against Wang and the other 54 suspects.
Monday's hearing lasted more than five hours, because of the large number of defendants on trial.
The hearing simply focused on facts including the identification of the defendants. The trial has yet to reach any verdicts.
Shenyang Intermediate People's Court began the hearing on Monday, the Xinhua news agency reported.
Wang Fengyou, the former president of Liaoning Yi°?lishen Tianxi Group, and the other 54 suspects face charges including contract fraud.
Wang launched the group in January 2003 with a capital of 100 million yuan (US$14.6 million). The group's nine subsidiary companies were engaged in manufacturing and selling the Yilishen branded ant-based tonic products, the court heard.
The tonics were described as "Chinese Viagra" and the ants were touted as being aphrodisiacs and ideal for use in liquor and herbal remedies.
The company organized thousands of ant farmers to supply it with insects on condition that they paid contractual bonds. But it stopped paying its suppliers in November 2007.
Thousands of farmers fearing they would lose their bonds and wages gathered at the company offices to demand payment.
The group entered bankruptcy on November 30, 2007. Prosecutors became involved and filed charges against Wang and the other 54 suspects.
Monday's hearing lasted more than five hours, because of the large number of defendants on trial.
The hearing simply focused on facts including the identification of the defendants. The trial has yet to reach any verdicts.
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