Judge who let killer stay free awaits verdict
Print Edition
A JUDGE who let a killer escape a jail sentence only for him to be involved in another murder is now awaiting a verdict on charges of dereliction of duty.
Prosecutors said that Li Hong, a judge of the Weinan City Intermediate People’s Court in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, illegally gave medical parole to former armed police officer Li Hongliang.
This emerged during the investigation into the death of Gao Jun, an industrial park official, The Beijing News reported yesterday.
A court heard that Li Hongliang, 26, was hired by Li Zhengrong, son of a local iron ore mine boss, “to teach Gao a lesson” after Li Zhengrong and Gao argued during a meal in June 2012.
Li Hongliang and two accomplices confronted Gao in a car park and on Li Hongliang’s orders an accomplice named Meng Yang slashed Gao’s neck, the newspaper reported. As blood spurted from the wound, Gao’s attackers fled, it added.
When police started to investigate the killing, they discovered that Li Hongliang had been convicted of murder in 2010.
Following an argument during a drinking session, he and another man killed a fellow drinker.
But while Li Hongliang was sentenced to 10 years behind bars in 2011, he never spent a day in prison on health grounds.
His mother said he had been diagnosed with lymphoma years earlier. But she could not produce any documents and said that her son had almost recovered following treatment.
Nonetheless, Li Hongliang was granted parole by Li Hong, who was presiding over the case, the newspaper reported.
The judge only required the father of Li Hongliang to submit a document verifying this account of his son’s health, it added.
The judge also asked Wang Xin, head of Huaxian Detention House, to ask Huashan Prison, to refuse to take Li Hongliang on medical grounds, it is reported.
And after collecting those documents, Li Hong didn’t submit them to police or higher authorities, nor discuss them with colleagues.
Instead, the judge alone decided to release Li Hongliang, the newspaper reported.
According to the newspaper, there was speculation that the judge received bribes, though this was never confirmed.
The irregularities in the medical parole remained hidden until Gao’s family reported to prosecutors that Li Hongliang had remained at liberty despite killing a man.
They claimed that the judge was indirectly responsible for Gao’s death.
Judge Li Hong went on trial at the Wubao County People’s Court in August. The verdict has not yet been announced.
Last year, Li Hongliang was sentenced to more than 10 years in jail for the 2010 killing and his involvement in Gao’s murder, the Legal Evening News reported.
It was not reported whether he is now actually behind bars.
The verdicts for the others on trial for Gao’s killing were not reported.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
