Chinese authorities said Monday that 28 people have been charged and 15 officials, including police, are being investigated for corruption two months after a brutal attack on several women in the northern city of Tangshan that sparked outrage and safety concerns.
In June, a group of men attacked four women in a barbecue restaurant after one of the men had his advances rebuffed. In graphic video footage circulated online, the men threw a chair at the women, and later dragged one of them out before hitting and kicking her and the others who tried to help her, authorities said.
The assault and the public outcry renewed a conversation about misogyny and mistreatment of women in China.
The attackers were suspected of being part of a gang, and local media reported that the police response had been slow at the time of the attack, prompting concerns that corruption was involved.
On Monday, authorities from the Hebei Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection said they were investigating 15 officials over corruption that involved "evil organizations," including those associated with the attackers.
The 15, including eight from Tangshan police and security departments, are suspected of abuse of power, bribery and other job-related crimes. Eight of them have been detained during the investigation.
Among the eight were Ma Aijun, the deputy head of Tangshan's Lubei district and head of the public security bureau of Lubei district, Hu Bin, the head of the police station branch in the airport affiliated with the public security bureau of Lubei district. Six other officials were Han Zhiyong, Chen Zhiwei, Fan Lifeng, Wang Hongwei, Wang Zhipeng and An Di, all of whom were on police post.
Separately, prosecutors said Monday that 28 people, including the men beating up the women in the video, had been charged recently. Police identified the prime suspect in the attack as Chen Jizhi.
At least nine were arrested shortly after the attack. State broadcaster CCTV reported that the charges had been brought on Friday.
The 11 offenses against them include opening casinos, robbery, assisting in cybercrime activities, picking quarrels and provoking trouble.
Two women who were attacked were hospitalized for at least 11 days, while the others had minor injuries.
Prosecutors also dismissed the case's rumours, including that the four women had been sexually assaulted, pushed off a building or run over by a car, stating that these rumours were proven false after investigation.
