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Ex-village boss held over fatal attack on farmer

By Ma Lie (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-11-11 08:30

XI'AN -- A former village head from Shaanxi province has been arrested for his role in the beating to death of a farmer, police said Monday.

Zhao Jisheng, former director of the Xishaoliang villagers' committee in Hancheng, Shaanxi, and ex-deputy of the Hancheng People's Congress, is accused of selling land owned by the local community, Zhang Jianguo, head of the Zhichuan township police, told China Daily.

When villagers tried to stop him, Zhao ordered a band of hired thugs to beat them, he said.

According to local man Zhang Xincheng, on Sept 18, 56-year-old villager Ju Wangcun approached Zhao as he accompanied a group of builders on to a piece of land, which he allegedly sold to them on June 30.

Zhao's minders attacked Ju, who died later in hospital from his injuries.

Zhao was arrested a week later, after being sacked by the municipal people's congress, Zhang said.

"Zhao is suspected of two counts of assault and prosecutors are now investigating the two cases," he said.

An earlier investigation by officials from the Hancheng land administrative bureau found that Zhao had illegally occupied and sold more than 19 mu (1.3 hectares) of farmland since last year.

Ju Ruigang, the son of the murdered farmer, said his father died protecting the villagers' land, but his family is now in debt, and owes about 10,000 yuan ($1,500) in hospital bills.

Fan Yue, an official with the government's administrative office said they will try to stop corrupt officials from selling villager's land in the future.