Our reporter Liu Wei - The deputy director of Fuzhen Land Office under the Baitou City Bureau of Land and Resources in Hebei Province, Mr. Wang Zhigang, was involved in a kidnapping case by helping the kidnappers find a place to stay and assisting in detaining the victim (as reported on November 26th). Yesterday, it was learned that the Fengtai Court sentenced Wang Zhigang to one and a half years imprisonment for illegal detention in the first trial. Four kidnappers received sentences ranging from 14 to 7 years.
Wang Zhigang, aged 38, met the unemployed youth Liu Wenhai from Liaoning province a few years ago through friends. Liu Wenhai respected Wang Zhigang and called him "brother". Every time he went to Baitou City, he would ask Wang Zhigang to arrange food and accommodation for him.
On September 12th last year, Liu Wenhai colluded with others to kidnap Mr. Xiao in Fengtai District. On the same day, Liu Wenhai contacted Wang Zhigang and asked him to help find a place to stay in Hebei. Subsequently, Wang Zhigang contacted his fellow townsman Wang Zhongbao. They then drove Mr. Xiao to Wang Zhongbao's residence in Gaotun Village, Baitou City, where they detained him. Liu Wenhai, Wang Zhongbao, and others repeatedly threatened Mr. Xiao's family to transfer money and physically abused him. On September 13th last year, Mr. Xiao's family transferred 50,000 yuan twice, which was taken by Liu Wenhai and others. Two days later, Mr. Xiao was rescued, and Liu Wenhai and others were subsequently arrested.
During the trial, Wang Zhigang denied the charges, claiming that he only helped Liu Wenhai with food and accommodation and did not know about the kidnapping. However, Wang Zhongbao, who provided the accommodation, said that he saw the victim with his head covered and asked Wang Zhigang what was going on. Wang Zhigang replied: "This person owes money to our friends in Beijing, you just take good care of him, don't ask any more questions." Wang Zhongbao also said that Liu Wenhai and others looked like members of a triad gang, and he regretted being careless in making friends.
After reviewing the case, the court believed that Liu Wenhai used violence during the kidnapping and robbed property, so he was charged with robbery as it is a heavier crime. Wang Zhongbao and two others were found guilty of kidnapping, while Wang Zhigang was found guilty of illegal detention. Regarding Wang Zhigang's defense, the court believed that he was aware that the victim had lost his freedom of movement but still assisted Liu Wenhai and others in continuing to restrict the victim's personal freedom, causing serious consequences. His actions meet the elements of the crime of illegal detention. Based on the roles and positions of each defendant in the joint crime and their degree of harm to society, the court handed down sentences accordingly.