Convicted official's case attracts attention
Source: Xinhua |
January 9, 2013, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WHEN a Chongqing finance bureau official's mistress, the head of a kindergarten, needed a school bus, the official compelled a businessman to "donate" one.
In November, the official was sentenced to 10 years in jail, but the case was thrust back into the spotlight after a newspaper in Chongqing ran an article about it on Sunday. The paper used its microblog to post a link to the story online, generating great netizen interest.
Lu Zuguo, a former official with the finance bureau of Chongqing's Fengjie County, met Gao Heping, his mistress who was 27 at the time, online in 2010. Though he was 47 and already married, the two became lovers in April 2011.
In December 2011, Lu solicited donations for a school bus for Gao's school from businessman Chen Wenbing, who needed Lu's signature to receive approved government funding.
Chen agreed, and Lu was later convicted of taking bribes and sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Fengjie County People's Court in November.
At the time, Lu's arrest prompted parents of the kindergarten to petition for him to be acquitted on the grounds that all the money Chen donated was put toward the school bus and Lu had charity in mind when making the request.
Though the case was closed months ago, fresh debate is stirring online. Some netizens are sympathetic to Lu, even praising him for his charitable deeds, while others say Lu deserves the punishment he received because he abused his power for personal ends.
"I have seen the splendor of humanity. It's a classic conflict between procedural justice and substantial justice," one Sina Weibo user wrote, siding with the many Internet users who think Lu's actions were justified because the money went to a good cause.
However, others disagree. "If it weren't for his mistress who owns the kindergarten, he would not have been concerned whether the kids had a school bus," wrote another Sina Weibo user.
At the heart of the debate is the question of whether Lu's behavior was an act of charity or not.
According to the court's verdict, Lu was found guilty of taking bribes based on evidence he and Gao were involved in an extramarital affair, which was supported by text messages and hotel records.
The court said: "The donation violated the principle of lawfulness and free will, and was, in fact, extortion."
Some said while he was guilty of abusing his power, the sentence was excessive because Lu didn't pocket any money.
In November, the official was sentenced to 10 years in jail, but the case was thrust back into the spotlight after a newspaper in Chongqing ran an article about it on Sunday. The paper used its microblog to post a link to the story online, generating great netizen interest.
Lu Zuguo, a former official with the finance bureau of Chongqing's Fengjie County, met Gao Heping, his mistress who was 27 at the time, online in 2010. Though he was 47 and already married, the two became lovers in April 2011.
In December 2011, Lu solicited donations for a school bus for Gao's school from businessman Chen Wenbing, who needed Lu's signature to receive approved government funding.
Chen agreed, and Lu was later convicted of taking bribes and sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Fengjie County People's Court in November.
At the time, Lu's arrest prompted parents of the kindergarten to petition for him to be acquitted on the grounds that all the money Chen donated was put toward the school bus and Lu had charity in mind when making the request.
Though the case was closed months ago, fresh debate is stirring online. Some netizens are sympathetic to Lu, even praising him for his charitable deeds, while others say Lu deserves the punishment he received because he abused his power for personal ends.
"I have seen the splendor of humanity. It's a classic conflict between procedural justice and substantial justice," one Sina Weibo user wrote, siding with the many Internet users who think Lu's actions were justified because the money went to a good cause.
However, others disagree. "If it weren't for his mistress who owns the kindergarten, he would not have been concerned whether the kids had a school bus," wrote another Sina Weibo user.
At the heart of the debate is the question of whether Lu's behavior was an act of charity or not.
According to the court's verdict, Lu was found guilty of taking bribes based on evidence he and Gao were involved in an extramarital affair, which was supported by text messages and hotel records.
The court said: "The donation violated the principle of lawfulness and free will, and was, in fact, extortion."
Some said while he was guilty of abusing his power, the sentence was excessive because Lu didn't pocket any money.
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