CHONGQING: The defense attorney for a mafia-style gang boss was arrested on Saturday for allegedly fabricating evidence and instructing his client to make the claim that police had tortured him for eight days during an interrogation.

Lawyer Li Zhuang also told suspected gang leader and billionaire Gong Gangmo to give false court statements, according to the city government's press office on Sunday.

Apparently, Gong told police of the lawyer's misconduct to atone for his crimes and his concerns that his false statements would eventually be discovered.

The scandal came almost a week after the Chongqing No 1 Intermediate Court delayed trial on Gong's alleged gang, which was scheduled to be held on Dec 7. A date for Li's trial has not been set.

Gong's alleged syndicate is among dozens of other organized crime groups ending up in the courts following a massive police crackdown on criminal gangs.

Charges against Gong range from allegedly organizing and leading mafia-style gangs, murder and illegal gun and drug trafficking.

The arrest of Gong's defense attorney sends a warning to other lawyers in accepting similar cases, said a local lawyer who defended alleged ringleader Chen Zhiyi in a separate incident.

Lawyer Liu Xiangshun said the rights of lawyers might be weakened because of the arrest.

"Scores of my peers who I've talked to yesterday said they are in fear of being implicated when defending gangs," Liu said.

"They will not take those cases under current circumstances."

Chen Zhiyi is one of 19 defendants who is tried in early December by the Chongqing No 2 Intermediate Court. The defendants claimed they had been tortured by police into confessing and detained in illegal prisons.

According to a China Youth Daily report, Gong told policemen that his lawyer accepted the case for money "while I'm the one who must bear the consequences".

"Winning or losing the case, Li will make his name known, but if I am found guilty of perjury, I will be punished."

Gong said Li and others had colluded to fabricate a story that Gong had been tortured during an interrogation, according to authorities.

Li met Gong three times and taught Gong to tell lies such as "I was strung up for eight days and nights and tortured to incontinence," a police official said.

Li, 48, is a partner in the Beijing-based Kangda Law Firm and was hired by Gong's family for the case.

Gong's family and friends had paid Li and his team of lawyers 2.45 million yuan ($360,000).

Li had asked Gong's family to pay him 20 million to 30 million yuan if Gong escapes capital punishment, authorities said.

Li is just one of many Beijing- or Shanghai-based high-profile lawyers who had flown to Chongqing to defend alleged gang bosses charging exorbitant fees.

Many have reportedly told relatives of the accused that they have connections to case-related departments.

The local procuratorate had issued an arrest warrant for Li, and further investigation of the case is under way.

Local government website cqnews.net yesterday reported that about 20 suspects, including Chongqing lawyer Wu Jiayou, have been detained or arrested for fabricating testimonies.

However, the report did not specify identities of the suspects.

(China Daily 12/15/2009 page4)