Chongqing News (Reported by Wang Jue) - Near the Nantping Economic Development Zone and the Convention and Exhibition Center station, it is common at night to see taxis with Qijiang registration waiting for passengers to return to Qijiang. Three young men have targeted these taxis, stopping them and beating the drivers while collecting "protection fees" from multiple taxi drivers over a five-month period, accumulating more than 800 collections at 10 yuan each time. Yesterday, according to information from the Nan'an District Court, these three individuals were recently sentenced to prison terms ranging from two to four years.
Collecting "Protection Fees" at 10 Yuan Each Time
The three defendants are all unemployed youths, the oldest being 22 years old and the youngest 17. Among them, Xu (nickname Hua'er, Xiaozai'er) was the leader.
According to the investigation by the Nan'an District Court, starting from the end of 2007, near the Nantping Economic Development Zone and the Convention and Exhibition Center station, it was common at night to see empty taxis with Qijiang registration waiting for passengers. From March to July 2009, over a span of five months, Xu and others used methods such as stopping cars, verbal threats, forcing passengers out, and beating the drivers to forcibly collect a "protection fee" of 10 yuan each time from the taxi drivers. Over five months, they collected "protection fees" more than 800 times, averaging about six times per day.
Taxi Driver Resists and Gets Bitten on the Thigh
Hu, a taxi driver from Qijiang, recounted that one evening in March last year, he drove passengers from Qijiang to Chongqing and waited near the Nantping Economic Development Zone station for three passengers before returning to Qijiang. Suddenly, Xu and his two companions rushed out from the roadside.
"Pay up or you can't leave!" The three men forcibly demanded a 10-yuan "protection fee" from Hu, who refused. Subsequently, the three men forced the passengers out of the car, dragged Hu out, and beat him. Xu even bit Hu's thigh multiple times, injuring him. With no choice, Hu paid the 10 yuan and left.
Hu recalled that every time he waited for passengers at the Economic Development Zone station, he would encounter Xu and his group. Eventually, he had to pay the "protection fee." By July last year, he had been extorted more than 20 times, totaling over 200 yuan.
Establishing "Authority" and Directing Departures
Yesterday, I met an informant named Liu Mei (a pseudonym) at the Chongqing International Convention and Exhibition Center station. She is the owner of a bus and had previously competed with Qijiang taxis for business.
"I've seen 'Xiaozai'er' (Xu)," Liu Mei said. "He may be small in stature, but he fights fiercely, and the Qijiang taxi drivers all fear him." Liu Mei added that after Xu and his group beat and threatened the taxi drivers, they quickly established some "authority" and then set "rules": At night, Xu and his group would make the Qijiang taxis line up in order by the roadside. After picking up passengers, the drivers had to pay 10 yuan before they could depart back to Qijiang.
Testimony from 19 Taxi Drivers
At the end of July last year, one victimized taxi driver reported the incident to the police, leading to the arrest of Xu and his two accomplices.
Recently, 19 taxi drivers from Qijiang testified in court against the three suspects in the Nan'an District Court. Driver Xing was extorted the most, having been charged over 80 times within three months, amounting to over 800 yuan.
The court ruled that Xu and his two accomplices were guilty of provoking trouble. Xu was sentenced to four years in prison, while Wang and Liu received sentences of three years and two months, and two years respectively.
Taxis Operating Outside Their Zone Violate Regulations
Why did the taxi drivers not report the extortion earlier? It turns out that Qijiang taxis operating in the main city area constitutes cross-district operation, violating the "Chongqing Road Transport Management Regulations," which stipulates penalties for such violations.
A staff member from the Qijiang County Taxi Management Office informed that regarding the issue of Qijiang taxis operating in the main city area, they began rectification efforts starting from August last year, achieving some effectiveness.