Hainan Daily, Haikou, September 22nd (reporter Lin Ying, correspondent Liu Dexi, Chen Yuanzhi) - The major gang crime case involving 12 defendants led by Pan Zaiwu and Su Wenlu from Wenchang City, prosecuted by the First Branch of Hainan Provincial People's Procuratorate on six charges, was recently announced in the first-instance verdict by the First Intermediate People's Court of Hainan. The main perpetrator, Pan Zaiwu, was sentenced to death for intentional injury, intentional homicide, and provoking trouble. Su Wenlu was found guilty of three crimes: intentional injury, explosion, and gambling, and was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve. The other ten defendants received sentences ranging from more than two years in prison to life imprisonment.
Operating three casinos and committing ten offenses
From 2005 to 2008, Su Wenlu gathered Pan Zaiwu and others to operate three casinos in the Jinshan area of Wenchang, illegally profiting 250,000 yuan. Pan Zaiwu and others guarded the casinos for Su Wenlu, who provided them with funds, food, and lodging. To dominate the area, Su Wenlu provided funding for machetes and other weapons for his accomplices. Subsequently, Su Wenlu and others committed ten offenses in the Jinshan area, engaging in serious criminal activities such as intentional murder, intentional injury, provoking trouble, and explosions, resulting in one death and four minor injuries, severely disrupting the local social, economic, and living order. Especially on the evening of March 28, 2008, victim Zhang Yuchang won money at a casino operated by Su Wenlu in Jinshan Town, which angered Su Wenlu's underlings. Subsequently, Pan Zaiwu, Su Wenlu, and others brutally attacked the victim with weapons, leading to his death, causing strong public dissatisfaction.
The police station chief falls after accepting "sponsorship"
As the investigation into the case of Zhang Yuchang's fatal injury deepened, Huang Meng, the former chief of the Jinshan Police Station, who had accepted "sponsorship fees" from casino bosses like Su Wenlu, came to light. Huang Meng received a total of 400,000 RMB in "sponsorship fees" from casino operators, including Su Wenlu's underlings. Huang Meng acted as a protector for the casinos, creating a negative social impact. Due to illegal accumulation of wealth, inciting public anger, and triggering mass incidents that led to the police station being besieged, Huang Meng was sentenced to five years in prison for accepting bribes. The Procuratorate Daily reported on this case on March 20th and April 16th, 2009, with the titles "Accepting Casino 'Sponsorship Fees'" and "A veteran police officer with over 30 years of service fell to money."
The court believed that Pan Zaiwu participated in harming others' bodies twice, resulting in one death and one minor injury; he also intentionally murdered and provoked trouble, being the direct perpetrator of Zhang Yuchang's death and thus the principal offender. Su Wenlu participated in harming others three times, resulting in one death, and initiated the conflict in the case of Zhang Yuchang's death, making him the principal offender. Consequently, the above judgment was made.