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Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture People’s Procuratorate Indictment


                                                             Diqing [Tibetan: Dechen] Procuratorate (2008) Criminal Indictment No. 11

          Defendant Gonpo Tserang, male, born December 13, 1976, identification number: 523232197612131519, from Ruoergai [Dzoege] County, Aba [Ngaba] Prefecture, Sichuan Province, understands Tibetan and English and [is employed as a] guide in the expeditions department of the Xianggelila Travel Service. Prior to arrest, resided at 3-1-2 Old Civil Aviation Development, Jiantang Town, Xianggelila County. Placed under criminal detention by the Diqing Prefecture Public Security Bureau on March 23, 2008, on suspicion of inciting splittism. On April 26 of the same year, after approval from our procuratorate, he was arrested by the Diqing Prefecture Public Security Bureau in accordance with the law. He is now in custody and has no prior criminal record.
         

          The Diqing Prefecture Public Security Bureau completed its investigation and sent the case of Gonpo Tserang, suspected of the crime of inciting splittism, to our procuratorate on June 25, 2008, for review and prosecution. After receiving the case, we notified the defendant of his right to retain defense counsel, questioned the defendant in accordance with the law, and reviewed all of the case materials. On July 31, 2008, the case was sent back to the Diqing Prefecture Public Security Bureau for additional investigation, and on August 29 the bureau concluded its investigation and reported [its findings] back to our procuratorate.
         

          Following investigation in accordance with the law, it was ascertained that from March 16 to 18, 2008, defendant Gonpo Tserang used the Internet and a mobile telephone to send inflammatory emails and messages that distorted the facts and true situation regarding social stability in the Tibetan area following the “March 14 incident” to Daiwei, Jimu, and Pan Feilaici, [who were all] outside the country.
    

          Evidence to support the aforementioned facts is as follows:

          1. Registration record of criminal case received;
          2. The confession and explanation provided by the defendant;
          3. Record of identification made at the crime scene;
          4. Identification photographs;
          5. List of items and documents seized;
          6. Report of electronic data evidence obtained;
          7. Remote investigation report;
          8. Attorney authorization letter;
          9. English translation aptitude certificate;
          10. English translation report.

         Our procuratorate finds that defendant Gonpo Tserang used the Internet to deliberately fabricate rumors, distort the true situation, and incite splittism. His actions violated Article 103(2) of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China [PRC]. The facts of the crime are clear, the evidence is certain and abundant, and he should be held criminally responsible for the crime of inciting splittism. In accordance with Article 141 of the Criminal Procedure Law of the PRC, we [hereby] file this indictment and request that you impose a sentence in accordance with the law.

          Sincerely,

Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Intermediate People’s Court of Yunnan Province

                                                                                                                                       Procurator: Su Meiyu
                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                       September 19, 2008

          Attachments:

          1. Defendant Gonpo Tserang is currently being held at the Xianggelila County Detention Center
          2. One copy of list of evidence, copies of primary evidence [blank] items [blank] pages

 

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Higher People’s Court of Yunnan Province Criminal Decision
 

                                                                                           (2008) Yunnan Higher Criminal Court Final No. 1685

          The original prosecuting organ is the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture [TAP] People’s Procuratorate of Yunnan Province.


          The appellant (defendant in the original trial) is Gonpo Tserang, male, born on December 13, 1976, from Ruoergai [Dzoege] County, Aba [Ngaba] Prefecture, Sichuan Province, Tibetan ethnicity, primary school education, [employed as a] guide in the expeditions department of Xianggelila Travel Service, and resides at 3-1-2 Old Civil Aviation Development, Jiantang Town, Xianggelila County. [The appellant] was placed under criminal detention in this case on March 23, 2008, arrested on April 26 of the same year, and is currently being held in the Xianggelila Detention Center.


          The Yunnan Provincial Diqing TAP Intermediate People’s Court tried the case brought against Gonpo Tserang, defendant in the original trial, by the Yunnan Provincial Diqing TAP People’s Procuratorate on charges of inciting splittism and issued a criminal verdict on October 27, 2008, for the case (2008) Diqing Criminal First Instance No. 12. The defendant in the original trial Gonpo Tserang did not accept the verdict and appealed. This court formed a collegiate bench in accordance with the law and, after reviewing the case file, determined that the facts in the case were clear and decided that the case would be tried without a hearing. The trial has now been concluded.


          The original verdict found that, from March 16 to 18, 2008, defendant Gonpo Tserang used the Internet and a mobile telephone to send inflammatory email and text messages that distorted the facts and true situation regarding social stability in the Tibetan area following the “March 14 incident” to Daiwei, Jimu, Pan Feilaici, Kaili Yasi, Teleisha, and Fute, [who were all] outside the country. Based on the aforementioned facts and related evidence and in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations, the original verdict found that defendant Gonpo Tserang committed the crime of inciting splittism and sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment with subsequent deprivation of political rights for one year. The laptop computer (IBM) and mobile telephone (Nokia) used in the crime were confiscated in accordance with the law.


          After the verdict was announced, the defendant in the original trial Gonpo Tserang appealed, saying that the messages he sent had no connection to the “March 14 incident”; that his actions incited ethnic hatred, but that the circumstances were not serious and should therefore not constitute either the crime of inciting ethnic hatred or inciting splittism; and that his acknowledgement of and attitude toward the damage caused by his actions had been relatively good, he had shown remorse, and no longer posed a threat to society.


          Through trial, it was ascertained that from March 16 to 18, 2008, appellant Gonpo Tserang had, following the “March 14 incident,” used the Internet and a mobile telephone to send inflammatory email and text messages that distorted the facts and true situation regarding social stability in the Tibetan area to Daiwei, Jimu, Pan Feilaici, Kaili Yasi, Teleisha, and Fute, [all of whom were] outside the country.


          The aforementioned facts are confirmed by evidence that was presented and cross-examined in the trial of first instance, including the investigation report and related materials prepared by the public security organ, photographs of the seized portable computer, and a certified investigation report on data from the portable computer, a remote investigation report, certified conclusions based on a mobile telephone, a translation report, and appellant Gonpo Tserang’s confession. As the aforementioned evidence was obtained following lawful procedure and its sources are true and lawful, it may be accepted [in this trial].


          This court finds that the appellant Gonpo Tserang used the Internet and a mobile telephone to send email and text messages that distorted the facts of the “March 14 incident” to persons outside the country and that his actions were a violation of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China [PRC], constitute the crime of inciting splittism, and should be severely punished. Appellant Gonpo Tserang [himself] clearly knew that the email and text messages he created distorted the facts and incited splittism, yet he proceeded to use the Internet and a mobile telephone to disseminate them on several occasions to persons outside the country, viciously attacking state political power, slandering the measures taken by law-enforcement agencies to stabilize society and establish normal social order. His reasons for appeal do not accord with the facts as found, and this court cannot accept them. In summary, the original facts as determined in the verdict of first instance are clear, the evidence is certain and abundant, the crime and laws are applied properly, the sentence is appropriate, and the adjudication process was in accordance with the law. Therefore, in order to uphold the territorial integrity and security of the PRC and severely combat against criminal elements who incite splittism and undermine national unity, in accordance with Article 189(1) of the Criminal Procedure Law of the PRC and Articles 103(2), 55, 56, 64, and 47 of the Criminal Law of the PRC, this court rules as follows:


          The appeal is rejected and the original verdict stands.
 

          The ruling in this case is final.

                                                                                                                         Presiding Judge: Lin Li
                                                                                                                         Judicial Officer: Yang Zhigang
                                                                                                                         Judicial Officer: Bai Chongliang

                                                                                                                         January 5, 2009

                                                                                                                         [Court] clerk: Chen Lijuan

 

 

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