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Cops allegedly hid evidence
By Zhang Xuanchen |
September 10, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
POLICE in central China are investigating seven police officers who allegedly hid key evidence in a series of rapes and burglaries that led to the death penalty for an innocent man.
Yu Pengfei, former deputy head of public security bureau in Shangqiu City, Henan Province, has been detained. The other six policemen were suspended, reported yesterday's China Youth Daily.
The seven were found to have concealed DNA test results in 12 rapes and burglaries in 2007, evidence that would have cleared five men from being wrongly sentenced. Their terms ranged from 15 years to death.
Among the victims was Zhang Zhenfeng, 34, who served three years in jail after being put on a death row with a two-year reprieve. Zhang was caught in June 2007, accused of gang-raping three women and stealing cash, cell phones and jewelry.
Zhang allegedly confessed to his crime in custody and gave out the names of five others. They were convicted in November 2008.
On appeal, a higher court ordered a case review last year due to lack of evidence. However, the men were kept in jail until this month.
The turning point came in August, when police discovered the real criminal, Wang Yinguang, who was in jail on other charges. Shangqiu Police then found that Yu and his team had hidden the crucial evidence - DNA and a sperm test result - and jumped to conclusions when probing the case.
Zhang received nearly 30,000 yuan (US$4,420) in compensation from local government, the newspaper said.
Zhang and his family refused to comment.
Yu Pengfei, former deputy head of public security bureau in Shangqiu City, Henan Province, has been detained. The other six policemen were suspended, reported yesterday's China Youth Daily.
The seven were found to have concealed DNA test results in 12 rapes and burglaries in 2007, evidence that would have cleared five men from being wrongly sentenced. Their terms ranged from 15 years to death.
Among the victims was Zhang Zhenfeng, 34, who served three years in jail after being put on a death row with a two-year reprieve. Zhang was caught in June 2007, accused of gang-raping three women and stealing cash, cell phones and jewelry.
Zhang allegedly confessed to his crime in custody and gave out the names of five others. They were convicted in November 2008.
On appeal, a higher court ordered a case review last year due to lack of evidence. However, the men were kept in jail until this month.
The turning point came in August, when police discovered the real criminal, Wang Yinguang, who was in jail on other charges. Shangqiu Police then found that Yu and his team had hidden the crucial evidence - DNA and a sperm test result - and jumped to conclusions when probing the case.
Zhang received nearly 30,000 yuan (US$4,420) in compensation from local government, the newspaper said.
Zhang and his family refused to comment.
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