A Chinese army unit in Shijiazhuang has refuted a rumor saying
it acted with violence in a local bath house and has sued its
source for slander, the Legal Daily reported on
Monday.
At a recent press briefing, senior officers of the unit said the
rumor has had an extremely negative impact on the reputation of the
unit chief and all PLA units stationed in the city, and has led to
prejudice against the army from society.
An online article posted early this year said the unit leader
ordered a band of his subordinates to destroy equipment and
utensils at the Jinbofan bath house in Shangjiazhuang, capital city
of Hebei Province, after being asked to pay for a
cup he broke at the center.
The story has been widely spread since then and has drawn much
attention from the public and even some foreign media, according to
the daily.
Local police launched an investigation into the case in
mid-August after the bath center informed them of the article.
Their investigation proved that the case was indeed fake, as all
leads pointed to one local resident, named Ji Shenghui. According
to police sources, it was Ji who uploaded the article to an online
BBS under the nickname "Yangtze Rive 750." However, Ji has denied
the accusation, saying someone may have stolen his online ID and
password to disseminate the rumor.
The lawsuit has been registered at a local court, according to
sources with the unit.
(CRIENGLISH.COM December 12, 2006)