Public enraged over alleged gang rape by son of PLA star
The son of a famous singer has been detained along with four others for their alleged involvement in a gang rape.
Beijing police refused to disclose the names of the suspects, only saying that five men, including one surnamed Li, were apprehended on Wednesday after a woman accused them of raping her.
Police insiders who requested anonymity said Li is the son of Li Shuangjiang, dean of the music department of the People's Liberation Army Academy of Arts.
Li Shuangjiang, 74, built his reputation in past decades by singing popular patriotic songs.
Police said the five were detained after the woman reported to the police that she was taken to a hotel and gang raped after drinking with the men in a bar on Sunday.
It is not the first time that junior Li has gotten in trouble.
The 17-year-old and another teenager attacked a couple who allegedly blocked their driveway near the entrance of a residential community in Beijing two years ago. He was later sent to a government correctional facility for one year.
Public outrage has been sparked by the alleged involvement of the son of a decorated military vocalist in a gang rape, with Web users citing it as an example of the abuses of privileges enjoyed by the second generation of officials and celebrities.
Li Guanfeng, 17, was among four others reportedly detained by police for the rape of a young woman in Beijing last week.
The junior Li is the son of Li Shuangjiang, dean of the music department of the People's Liberation Army Academy of Arts, who built a reputation in past decades for singing popular patriotic songs.
The case triggered over 927,000 posts on Sina Weibo over the past week, seeing many Web users expressing their anger and commenting on Li Guanfeng's past misbehavior.
This is not the first time Li Guanfeng, formerly known as Li Tianyi, has been in trouble with the law.
In September 2011, he and another teenager driving an unlicensed BMW attacked a couple in Beijing after accusing them of blocking his driveway with their car.
The young man was later sent to a government correctional facility for one year and changed his name to Li Guanfeng after his release in September 2012. The public accused Li of changing his name to cover up his checkered past.
Meanwhile, a video clip of a 2011 interview of Li's parents surfaced online, where they explained their son was 12 in 2006, raising doubts as to whether the military singer is trying to falsify his son's age so he will be tried as a juvenile.
"If he is under 18, his sentence might be less than 10 years in prison," Hao Yachao, a Beijing-based lawyer, told the Global Times, adding that according to the Criminal Law, an adult charged with gang rape is eligible for a minimum 10 years or the death penalty.
The Beijing police refused to disclose Li Guanfeng's age as requested by the Global Times on Sunday.
"Distrust between common people and the privileged class is evident here, after several cases of officials using their power to cover up crimes were exposed," said He Bing, a professor with the China University of Political Science and Law.
Li Yali, former deputy chief of the public security bureau of Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, was sacked in January 2013 for attempting to cover up his son's drunk driving and beating of a police officer.
He Bing cautioned that such distrust might turn to hatred if more such cases are exposed.
Online discussion heated up after Li's mother was reported as saying that she respected any punishment handed to her son by the courts, but hoped for understanding and lenience from the general public and media.
Liu Kaiming, director of the Institute of Contemporary Observation, a Shenzhen-based civil think tank, told the Global Times on Sunday that it's the abuse of power of the privileged class and their children's lack of accountability that provokes such a heated response from the public.
"It's common to see parents spoiling their only child, but one born of a privileged family sometimes grows up thinking that parents can cover up their misbehavior. They gradually begin to neglect the law and commit more serious crimes," said Liu.
Liu noted that another reason for the public interest in Li Guanfeng's case was that his behavior stands in sharp contrast with the honorable image of his father.
Li Guanfeng(formerly known as Li Tianyi), the son of Li Shuangjiang, dean of the music department of the People's Liberation Army Academy of Arts, has been detained along with four others for their alleged involvement in a gang rape.
| Timeline | |
| Feb. 17 | Five men, including Li Guanfeng, took a woman to a hotel and gang raped her after drinking in a bar. |
| Feb. 19 | The five were detained after the woman reported to the police. |
| Feb. 21 | Microblogger @"Wangfeng-SCMP", certificated as website editor of South China Morning Post, whistleblowed that a young man named Li Guanfeng was held in crimimal detention on suspition of gang rape. |
| Feb. 22 | Police insiders who requested anonymity said Li Guanfeng is the son of Li Shuangjiang. |
Key points:
● It is not the first time that junior Li has gotten in trouble. He attacked a couple who allegedly blocked their driveway near the entrance of a residential community in Beijing two years ago. He was later sent to a government correctional facility for one year.
● Four of the five suspects are under the age of 18.
Reactions:
● Father Li Shuangjiang:
Li Shuangjiang was struck down with an illness after hearing the news. He remains in hospital now.
● Mother Meng Ge:
"My son made a big mistake, and he should be punished. However, he is still a teenager. I hope the public can be tolerant with him."
● Lawyer Ma Guohua:
Li's case is a tricky one and he already has a criminal record. Although he is still a teenager, the court may not reduce sentencing.
● Li's schoolmate Wang Bo (assumed name):
Li committed many faults in his school days but was rarely punished.
| View Points |
Ding Xilin, editor-in-chief, Xinmin Weekly
Li Tianyi's case shows not only the failure of social education, but the loss of home education. Normally, kids in famous families have better conditions and more chances than those from ordinary families. The depravity of celebrities' offspring is closely related to their parents' spoiling and a lack of discipline. In fact, these spoiled children are the product of indulgent parents.
Yao Bo, web commentator
I see Li Tianyi's case as a good chance for us to rethink the teenagers' reeducation system. In the past, troubled teenagers were kept in reeducation camps with others with similar problems. If the punishment could be replaced by other methods, such as community service, psychological treatment and so on, these teenagers could have a chance to leave their environment behind and become better through communicating with kind people.
Xia Xueluan, professor in sociology, Peking University
The failure of education has led to spoiled children from celebrity families. Those indulged kids study in private schools, drive luxury cars and have nothing to worry about in life. The fortunate conditions of their family have taught them to lord it over others.
| Background |
| Previous Scandal |
| Time |
| Sept. 8, 2011 |
| Place |
| A residential community in Haidian district, Beijing |
| Incident |
| Li Guanfeng attacked a couple who allegedly blocked their driveway. |
| Result |
| Famous singer Li Shuangjiang apologized to the couple that were beaten by his son; Li Guanfeng was sent to a juvenile facility for a one-year detention. |
| Li Guanfeng's voices at the scene |
| "Who dare to call the police?" "I will give you 2,000 yuan ($ 313), let me go." |
| Photo |
 People stand near two cars in a residental area in Beijing's Haidian district after they blocked two drivers from fleeing the scene where they beat a couple in a brawl.Photo: CFP |
| Related reports |
| Youth attacker sent to juvenile facility despite victims' forgiveness Famous PLA singer says sorry for son's violent attack Spoilt rich can't dodge justice |
| About Li Guanfeng's family | ||
 | ||
| Mother Meng Ge (left) Age: 47 Job: PLA singer | Father Li Shuangjiang (middle) Age: 74 Job: PLA singer | Son Li Guanfeng (right) Former name: Li Tianyi Age: 17 |
Eating Out - Episode 41
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