Driver detained as officials deny murder rumors
By Staff Reporter |
December 28, 2010, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A HIT-AND-RUN driver who killed a village leader in east China's Zhejiang Province has been detained, with the local government dismissing speculation the victim had been murdered for accusing local officials of land abuse.
A government official in Yueqing City said van driver Fei Liangyu from Anhui Province had been detained for running over Qian Yunhui, head of Zhaiqiao Village who was on his way to the Lingang Industrial Zone last Saturday morning.
The official said the case was merely "a common accident," dismissing widespread rumors that Qian, 53, had been lured to the spot and thrown by a group of men into the path of a speeding vehicle.
The official highlighted a photo of brake marks measuring 5.4 meters at the scene, saying it dispelled rumors that the driver's intention was to kill Qian.
Fei's co-driver, Huang Biao, has also been detained and will receive an administrative penalty for "giving fake testimony."
The pair had left the scene of the accident but later turned themselves in to police.
A photo showing Qian's body under the wheels of the vehicle circulated widely on local and nationwide Internet forums, triggering outrage among villagers, who claimed he had been assassinated by people hired by local officials taking revenge for his accusations of land abuse and forced demolitions, China Youth Daily reported yesterday.
Some villagers told the newspaper that Qian had written letters to higher authorities accusing Yueqing land officials of teaming up with a power company to illegally obtain and occupy up to 146 hectares of farmland from farmers without compensation.
As a result, Qian was said to have been put under custody by police three times since 2005.
Police confirmed Qian had been detained on charges of "disturbing social order" twice and had been taken in for "cooperating in an investigation" on a third occasion.
The surveillance camera monitoring the accident site had broken down that day, police claimed.
Villagers told the newspaper their phones had been bugged by local officials, who had ordered them not to talk about the accident.
Qian's daughter and son-in-law were detained right after the accident, the website of People's Daily reported yesterday.
A government official in Yueqing City said van driver Fei Liangyu from Anhui Province had been detained for running over Qian Yunhui, head of Zhaiqiao Village who was on his way to the Lingang Industrial Zone last Saturday morning.
The official said the case was merely "a common accident," dismissing widespread rumors that Qian, 53, had been lured to the spot and thrown by a group of men into the path of a speeding vehicle.
The official highlighted a photo of brake marks measuring 5.4 meters at the scene, saying it dispelled rumors that the driver's intention was to kill Qian.
Fei's co-driver, Huang Biao, has also been detained and will receive an administrative penalty for "giving fake testimony."
The pair had left the scene of the accident but later turned themselves in to police.
A photo showing Qian's body under the wheels of the vehicle circulated widely on local and nationwide Internet forums, triggering outrage among villagers, who claimed he had been assassinated by people hired by local officials taking revenge for his accusations of land abuse and forced demolitions, China Youth Daily reported yesterday.
Some villagers told the newspaper that Qian had written letters to higher authorities accusing Yueqing land officials of teaming up with a power company to illegally obtain and occupy up to 146 hectares of farmland from farmers without compensation.
As a result, Qian was said to have been put under custody by police three times since 2005.
Police confirmed Qian had been detained on charges of "disturbing social order" twice and had been taken in for "cooperating in an investigation" on a third occasion.
The surveillance camera monitoring the accident site had broken down that day, police claimed.
Villagers told the newspaper their phones had been bugged by local officials, who had ordered them not to talk about the accident.
Qian's daughter and son-in-law were detained right after the accident, the website of People's Daily reported yesterday.
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