Thirteen people, including an airline employee, are currently on
trial in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong
Province.
Sources with the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court said
yesterday that the alleged human smugglers known as "snakeheads"
are accused of helping 200 Chinese emigrate illegally to Europe
between June and September last year.
The three-day trial ends today and the "principal defendants
could face serious punishment if they are found guilty," Li
Zhongyuan, a spokesman for the court, told China Daily. It
is not known when a ruling will be given.
Sources at the court also indicate that a number of immigration
officials are involved in the case but have been charged. They are
alleged to be on the run.
The two principal suspects, Lin Chuanfeng and Zeng Weixing, have
denied the charges.
The court quoted Lin Chuanfeng as saying that the real
mastermind behind the case is one Lin Chuangan, who is still at
large. Meanwhile, Zeng told the court that he was not involved at
all.
Lin Chuangan is alleged to have provided emigrants with fake
passports.
Lin Chuanfeng and Zeng were allegedly responsible for organizing
overseas accommodation, securing visas and buying air tickets.
All three main suspects are from east China's Fujian
Province, and it is estimated that each of them made
1,000-3,000 yuan (US$123-369) for every illegal emigrant they
helped.
(China Daily October 27, 2005)
