According to our agency reports, a male employee of the State Tax Bureau in Binhai County sexually assaulted a 9-year-old girl at a bathhouse after drinking. Following the incident, the suspect was placed under criminal detention by the public security authorities.
The previous day, news of the "deputy director of Binhai County's State Tax Bureau molesting a minor" quickly spread through online forums throughout Binhai County. Many people condemned the despicable actions of the involved party. The incident occurred at a bathhouse on one side of Renmin Road in the county town. The victimized girl is from out of town and came to Binhai County during the summer vacation. Her mother works as a waitress at this bathhouse. Due to the slow business at the bathhouse, the girl followed her mother to the workplace or moved around downstairs or watched TV in the private room. However, when reporters arrived at the bathhouse yesterday, they learned that the mother and daughter had already left the bathhouse after the incident, and the staff were unwilling to disclose their whereabouts.
An unnamed employee of the bathhouse privately told reporters: On the evening of July 8th, everyone heard the girl's mother crying and causing a disturbance on the second floor of the bathhouse. When her companions arrived on the scene, they discovered that she seemed to have previously argued with an obese male bather. She immediately informed us that her daughter had been "that way" by this customer in the private room. The overweight bather at the scene did not deny his actions, spoke little, but it was clearly evident that he had strong alcohol breath. Everyone at the bathhouse recognized him as a regular customer who worked at the county's State Tax Bureau. People usually referred to him as "Director Xia."
That night, this "Director Xia" was taken away by the police. Yesterday, reporters learned from the Binhai County police that Xia has been placed under criminal detention. Whether it was rape or molestation has yet to be determined. Detailed case information is currently being investigated further.
After the incident, some local netizens pointed out that Xia, who lost control after drinking, is the deputy director of the 5th Branch of the Binhai County State Tax Bureau. Yesterday, reporters went to the 5th Branch of the Binhai County State Tax Bureau located in Caiao Town. An elderly man on duty for the weekend told reporters that Xia has already left the branch and now works in the county town. Reporters noticed that Xia is ranked third in the announcement board of the branch's staff. Director Yu Qun of the Binhai County State Tax Bureau stated that Xia's position is not the deputy director of the branch but a regular official. He declined to comment further on other situations. The head of the bureau's office said that Xia's current position is the director of the Comprehensive Department of the 7th State Tax Branch. (Xiaochuan, Li Gen)