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Four sentenced in syringe needle attacks

By Cui Jia (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-18 07:45

URUMQI: Four members of an organized group responsible for needle attacks in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, were sentenced to between eight and 15 years in prison yesterday.

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The trial, held at the Municipal Intermediate People's Court of Urumqi, is the second involving the hypodermic needle attacks that had been happening in the city since mid-August. More than 500 civilians were injured in the series of attacks.

Abdulrusul Abdukhadi stabbed a woman surnamed Li in the neck in an underground passage at 10:30 am on Sept 3, with the help of three others identified as Ablimit Memet, Rehman Raziq and Abdulkeyum Ayup, according to the court.

The four Uygurs were captured at the scene of the attack. The incident is believed to have provoked a massive protest involving tens of thousands of people on the same day. People took to the streets to protest needle attacks in Urumqi and to demand security guarantees.

They were convicted of the crime of "spreading hyped toxic substances" by the court. All four suspects decided to appeal.

Abdulrusul Abdukhadi and Ablimit Memet were sentenced to 15 years in prison, Rehman Raziq 12 years and Abdulkeyum Ayup eight years. Abdukhadi and Memet were also deprived of political rights for five years and Raziq for three years.

Abdukhadi, Raziq and Ayup traveled from Kashgar to Urumqi on Aug 31 and started to plot needle attacks the next day with Memet, a business man who is also from Kashgar, the police said.

Ablimit Memet purchased four syringes on Sept 2 to carry out the attacks the next day. Before stabbing the pedestrian, the group also stabbed a commuter on the bus on Sept 3.

"We've collected sufficient evidence such as witnesses' testimony, the suspects' confessions and surveillance camera footage to indict the suspects during our investigation" said Huo Ju, vice-director of criminal investigation department of Urumqi public security bureau.

The trial proceeded in the Uygur language according to the defendants' wishes, with simultaneous translation in Mandarin. More than 70 people, including the relatives of the suspects, the public and the press attended the hearing yesterday.

"In the view of Muslims, the word Muslim means solidarity and stability. A devoted Muslim must love both his country and his religion, and contribute to the national prosperity, to people's health and welfare," said Wap Rahman, an imam with a mosque in the city.

"Only harsh punishment exerted on criminals according to law and return of a secure living environment can heal people's psychological trauma," he added.

Despite the harsh punishment on needle attack suspects, such attacks are still being carried out, but the number of attacks has dropped. Four needle attack cases in Urumqi were confirmed on Wednesday, and six were confirmed on Monday, according to Urumqi police.

Syringe attackers may face harsh punishment, including life imprisonment and even the death penalty if convicted of causing grave consequence.

Last Saturday, two men and a woman were given sentences ranging from seven to 15 years in jail for syringe stabbings or robberies in which they threatened their victims with needles.