Barbecue attack: public prosecution launched against 28

A public prosecution has been initiated against 28 defendants, including seven people who allegedly assaulted four women at a barbecue restaurant on June 10 in Tangshan, North China's Hebei province, according to a statement by the People's Procuratorate of Hebei on Monday morning.

Led by the key defendant, Chen Jizhi the gang reportedly committed 11 crimes and four administrative illegal actions in Tangshan and other places, such as illegal detention, affray, intentional injury, opening casinos and robbery since 2012, the statement said.

"These evil forces had caused adverse social impact by indulging in crimes, oppressing the residents and destroying economic and social order," the statement said.

On the early morning of June 10, four females were dining at the restaurant when one of the them, surnamed Wang, was reportedly harassed by Chen and was allegedly beaten by him and others after she refused his advances. Her companies were also then beaten after trying to help her.

The four victims suffered mild or minor injuries. Two were later treated at a local hospital and were discharged from hospital on July 1; the other two were not hospitalized.

In relation to the case, eight civil servants, including Ma Aijun, head of Lubei district branch of Tangshan public security bureau, and some other officers at local police stations in Tangshan, were put under lien for which they would be restricted with personal freedom when under investigation, according to a statement by Hebei Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision on Monday.

They were investigated for alleged corruption and being reportedly protective umbrella behind the defendants in the case.

Preliminary investigations have showed they had been allegedly involved in violations of disciplines and laws, and were suspected with abuse of power, bending the law for personal gain, offering and accepting bribes, the statement said.