Gang leader's lawyer admits false evidence charges
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A gang leader's lawyer admitted Tuesday he instructed the mob boss to lie in court and enticed others to commit perjury during an organized crime trial in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.
Li Zhuang, a 48-year-old Beijing lawyer, withdrew all the grounds of appeal and defence during the second trial at Chongqing No.1 Intermediate People's Court. But he insisted on an appeal.
He admitted that he abetted the gang leader Gong Gangmo to fabricate a story that Gong had been tortured during interrogation.
Li also admitted he asked a Chongqing lawyer, Wu Jiayou, to bribe a policeman to get false evidence of the allegation.
Li confessed that he incited Gong's wife, Cheng Qi, to tell a lie that Gong had been extorted by Fan Qihang, Gong's gang member.
Li said in the court he intended to give false evidence and help absolve Gong from the charges of leading a criminal organization, murder, selling and transporting drugs and ammunition, said Dai Ping, a prosecutor with the Chongqing municipal procuratorate.
Li received a jail term of two years and a half for giving false evidence and inciting others to bear false witness by the Jiangbei District People's Court in the first-instance trial on Jan. 8.
A statement from the court said 34 alleged gang members headed by Gong were charged with organized crime offences on Nov. 20, 2009. On Nov. 22 and 25, Gong's wife and cousin signed contracts with the Beijing Kang Da Law Firm which assigned Li Zhuang to defend Gong.
Li was allegedly implicated by Gong on Dec. 10, 2009, and was detained two days later.
Gong went on the first trial at the Chongqing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court on Jan.5, but the court had yet to hand down a verdict on Gong.
