The trial of a suspected gang boss as part of a sweeping crackdown on mafia activities in Chongqing has taken an unexpected twist with the arrest of his lawyer on charges of fabricating evidence.
The issue has been further complicated after another group of lawyers complained to the government that proper process had not been followed in their colleague’s arrest, and that the case should be handled by an outside police force.
Over the past several months Chongqing, run by the ambitious former commerce minister Bo Xilai (薄熙來), has mounted a sweeping and much publicized campaign against gangs, handing out death sentences and publishing gory pictures of gang victims.
The focus has now switched to alleged gang leader Gong Gangmo’s (龔剛模) lawyer, Li Zhuang (李莊), who has been arrested on charges of allegedly falsifying evidence and instructing his client to lie in court.
The Beijing Youth Daily said police were charging Li with, among other things, telling Gong to lie and say he had been tortured.
Li told the newspaper in an interview though that these allegations were baseless.
“Everything I’ve done has been in accordance with the law on lawyers,” he said.
Li’s treatment has infuriated a group of mainly Beijing lawyers, who have written a letter demanding that police from outside of Chongqing be bought in to investigate the case, which they say has defamed their entire profession.
“The detention of and rapid ‘defaming’ of Li Zhuang has had a huge negative effect on the entire law profession,” the report quoted lawyer Li Fangping (李方平) as saying.
The Chongqing authorities deny wrongdoing.
“We’re trying the best to find the truth by coordinating with local authorities. Li will bear legal liabilities and his lawyer license will be revoked if the final judicial investigation finds he has violated laws and regulations,” a Beijing Lawyers Association spokesman said.
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