Robbing the closet
Global Times | 2012-12-24 23:59:06
By Zhang Zihan
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A gay couple kisses at Yuandadu park in Chaoyang district on November 23 . Photo: CFP
Prosecutors say they have arrested seven men from a gang who lured gay men into compromising situations then robbed them, taking advantage of the victims' fear of exposure. One alleged gang member is still at large.
The gang trolled the internet for gay men seeing sexual liaisons, the Chaoyang district procuratorate announced Monday.
"They declared they needed a massage, or they provided massage services, and set traps for the victims they hooked," prosecutors said.
The scheme was allegedly masterminded by a man surnamed Che from Jilin Province. "Che once encountered some gays and he knew gays are afraid of having their identity exposed, so he and other members of the gang decided to make money from it," prosecutors said.
According to prosecutors, the gang committed their first crime on July 6, when a member surnamed Zhu claimed he need massage and lured a victim to a hotel in Chaoyang district. Zhu told the victim to take a bath, then Zhu, Che and another gang member entered the bathroom and beat the victim.
"They robbed his iPhone, which worth 2,700 yuan ($433), and forced the victim to tell them his home address, where they burglarized a 4,500 yuan laptop. They also got the victim's bank card, and after forcing him to tell the password, they withdrew all 9,900 yuan from the card," prosecutors said.
The gang robbed three more victims. When the police nabbed them attempting their fifth robbery, the men had already stolen over 50,000 yuan worth of property, prosecutors said.
Zhang Jian, media officer from Changping district procuratorate, told the Global Times the public prosecution of this case is underway.
Statistics from Beijing Zuoyou Information and Consulting Center, a non-governmental organization which supports male sex workers, shows in 2011 alone they received about 60 reports involving violence against gay sex workers, with 30 of them injured. The report says robbery and rape are common.
Kent Zhu, a 23-year-old project assistant from group, told the Global Times he heard of Che's gang from male sex workers.
Zhu told the Global Times that some victims did not dare to report the robbery to the police because they did not want to expose that they were gay. "The victims included both male sex workers and gay clients who wanted sexual service. Both are not allowed by law, so when they are robbed and beaten they won't report it to the police," said Zhu.
Zhu advised gay people who are victims of crime to tell the police immediately. "Homosexual people should understand that there is nothing to be afraid of regarding their sexual orientation," Zhu said. He said even though prostitution is not allowed in China, gay sex workers' human rights should also be protected if they choose this career on their free will.
Similar cases have been reported across the country. In October, four travelers blackmailed a gay man in Zigong, Sichuan, the West China Metropolis Daily reported.
In August, a gay man from Shandong Province claimed he was raped and asked for money after he went home with another man, China News Service reported.
舒文明 William Schue
希夷文化与社会发展事务所
XiYi Institute of Cultural and Social Development
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