Three sentenced for inciting subversion, kidnapping ( 2003-12-31 14:13) (Xinhua)
The Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court Wednesday sentenced two men
with foreign nationalities to imprisonment and deportation for inciting
subversion of the state's political power of China and kidnapping in the
country.
Another man of Chinese nationality was sentenced to imprisonment for
kidnapping.
According to the first instance verdict given by the court, Sun Gang, 44, a
native of Pingdingshan City of Henan Province who has New Zealand nationality,
was sentenced to five years in prison, along with a fine on charges of inciting
subversion of the state's political power and kidnapping.
Lan Yupeng, 54, a native of Tainan, Taiwan, who holds US nationality, was
sentenced to three years and six months in prison, along with a fine on the same
charges.
The court also ruled the two be deported.
Lin Yandong, 42, a native of Fushun City in Liaoning Province, was sentenced
to one year and six months in prison, with fines imposed, on a charge of
kidnapping.
According to the court, Sun and Lan, under the directions of the head of a
hostile organization abroad, had plotted to carry out propaganda in Beijing
aimed at inciting subversion of the state's political power when they were
staying abroad.
Sun entered China on May 6, 2003, followed by Lan the next day.The two then
prepared leaflets, paint, hacksaw and airship and, in the name of other people,
rent an apartment in a residential area in Beijing for the execution of the
plot.
On May 14, Sun and Lan were captured in a hotel in Beijing, where they were
staying temporarily, and the police uncovered someof the leaflets on the spot.
The other tools they had prepared were found in the apartment later.
The court also found out that in collusion with the head of that overseas
hostile organization, Sun and Lan had plotted to kidnap a person surnamed Liu
working with a company in Hunan Province, by force for extorting a huge ransom.
Lan had prepared sleeping pills for the kidnapping, and Sun went to Fushun on
May 10 to discuss details for the kidnapping with Lin Yandong. Lin mustered some
more people and, with funds from Sun, purchased tools for carrying out the plot.
Sun had also prepared a passport for fleeing China.
During the court trial, Sun, Lan and Lin raised no objections to the charges
against them. Sun defended himself while Lan, Lin and their defenders spoke in
defense.
Officials from the New Zealand and US embassies in
Beijing were present at the trial as observers and heard the
verdict.
