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Life sentence for evading toll

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-01-14 14:55

A farmer surnamed Shi in Henan province was reportedly sentenced to life imprisonment recently for not paying road toll. The amount may have been huge, but the case has raised doubts among people about fair legal treatment, says an article in Beijing News. Excerpts:

Not paying an amount as huge as 200,000 yuan ($30,287) is indeed a crime, which Shi was guilty of committing.

But the court claimed that he had "defrauded" 3.682 million yuan by evading toll 2,362 times, and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

What some netizens cannot understand is how did the court get the figure of 3.682 million yuan and why should Shi be given a life sentence if it is doubtful that he really cheated the local administration of that amount.

Reports say Shi's two cars evaded toll 2,362 times in eight months. A break-up of the figure arrived at by the court suggests he should have paid at least 15,000 yuan a day for eight months. Relevant departments should explain to the public how can toll be so high.

It is an undeniable fact that highway toll across the country is quite high, because of which some people evade or try to evade them.

What the public is worried about is that drivers are still made to pay illegal charges on many highways despite prohibitory measures taken by the authorities.

If Shi is penalized for toll evasion, will those who overcharge toll get the same treatment, because they too are committing a crime?

If the authorities do not clarify these and other controversial points, people will continue to question the impartiality of the trial.