The death penalty in China is used much more liberally than most places in the world. The Chinese government has always been a staunch supporter of capital punishment as a tool by which to scare the Chinese shitless into not committing crimes. Crimes like murder, rape or ripping off investors in a fake ant-breeding enterprise. Yes, a fake ant-breeding business. Wang Zhendong, the chairman of Yingkou Donghua Trading Group Company was sentenced to death Thursday for stealing $385 million from investors in a fake ant-breeding business. Wang had promised nearly 10,000 investors 60% returns on ant-breeding equipment that would be sold for medicinal purposes. Fifteen managers were sent to prison as well. While it sounds somewhat ridiculous, one of Wang’s investors, upon learning that his money was gone, committed suicide. In China, the death penalty is not only used for murder, but for crimes that are said to have a “pernicious social impact.” This covers crimes involving immoral business practices and crime that has the most pernicious impact in China– insect abuse.

•AP: Swindle with Ants Gets Chinese Tycoon a Death Sentence

Trackback this Post | Feed on comments to this Post