The Li Qinghong Case

• Author: China Law Digest

On July 23, the People's Court in Xiaohe District in Guiyang, capital city of Guizhou Province, passed its sentence on the Li Qinghong Case. Li was sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of organizing and leading a criminal syndicate and other crimes. At the same time, Li's son Li Chonggang, was acquitted on all counts with helps from defense lawyers.

Up to 43 days trail, a total of 88 lawyers for defendants in this case claim innocence for their clients and all plaintiffs are appealing.

Li Chonggang was arrested on suspicion of tax evasion in April 2009. Guiyang Public Security Bureau turned this case into the biggest criminal syndicate in Guiyang afterwards. The reason is that after the crime of tax evasion was unable to be established after investigation, Li then was charged for organizing a criminal syndicate.

In February 2010, a total of 17 defendants were prosecuted for 32 offenses. March 25, Guiyang Intermediate People's Court sentenced Li Chonggang five years and six months, for illegally engaging in mining operation and disturbing social order. All defendants appealed to Guizhou High People’s Court. In July 2010, the Guizhou High...