Wang Zhengzhong profited greatly from his work as a policeman in China, but died at a relatively young age, with regret.
Born in 1953 in Fuzhou, the capital of southern China’s Fujian Province, Wang became a policeman at 20, according to a China Forum article that tells of his career. He had a very smooth career, with one major promotion after another. In 1996, Wang was appointed to be deputy director of Fuzhou’s Public Security Bureau.
After Wang became deputy director, he was in charge of the traffic police and had authority over entertainment places such as karaoke bars, night clubs, saunas, etc. Many people in these professions bribed him in exchange for protection. Wang’s wealth accumulated rapidly. His “profit” was over one million yuan (approximately US$125,000) every year.
Wang was also well known in police circles for his unfaithfulness to his wife. Besides having several mistresses outside of the bureau whom he supported financially, he had two mistresses inside the bureau for a long time.
One of these was a very beautiful woman. Named Hao Wen, she was called the “Police Flower of Fuzhou.” Wang arranged for her to work at a municipal-level public security office as the director.
Wang Zhenzhong was in close contact with the local chairman of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee as well as high-ranking military officials. With these connections, he was able to enter Fuzhou’s used car market, which was controlled by two large groups under the protection of a trusted aide to Wang. Wang’s illegal income was over 100 million yuan (US$12.5 million) during this time.
Fleeing to the US
The troubles of the fabulously wealthy Lai Changxing of Fujian Province suddenly complicated Wang’s life. Lai was charged in the late 1990s with being a smuggler in a highly publicized corruption case, charges Lai deniend.
Wang provided protection for the largest crime syndicate in Fujian Province, the Mute Gang. After Lai Changxing’s smuggling case was brought to light, political appointments in Fujian Province had to be shuffled, and the Mute Gang’s connection with a county governor was exposed.
Wang felt that he also could run into trouble at any time. With much effort, he managed to get U.S. passports for himself and Hao Wen.
In order to save his own life, Lin Qiuwen, the Mute Gang’s leader, confessed while being incarcerated that Wang Zhenzhong had provided police protection. In this way, Wang’s involvement in many economic crimes was exposed.
On the morning of May 22, 2002, Wang was asked to meet with provincial discipline officials. Shocked and scared, Wang, along with his mistress Hao Wen, used the passports they had prepared in advance to flee to the United States.
Wang brought out over 10 million U.S. dollars when he escaped. Investigators searched his house and found another 30 million Chinese Yuan (US$4.89 million).
Receiving Asylum
According the article in China Forum, after Wang escaped, the Public Security Bureau sent out a global arrest warrant.
Wang feared he would be extradited so he immediately applied for political asylum at a U.S. immigration office. Wang and Hao had brought with them top-secret documents: orders from the Political and Legislative Committee, the Public Security Bureau, and the National Security Bureau to suppress Falun Gong harshly.
Wang turned over these documents to U.S officials and claimed that he was forced to flee overseas because he had refused to follow the orders to persecute Falun Gong. His application was approved. Wang is the highest ranking police officer to have escaped China.
Wang’s escape stirred up a lot anger back in Fuzhou. Jia Chunwang, who was then the director of Public Security Bureau in Fuzhou was ordered to investigate and clean out the whole public security system.
Four officials who were involved with Wang’s case were punished. Over 40 middle level police officers were demoted.
Wang’s Last Words
Wang and his mistress spent over one million dollars to purchase a luxury estate in California. They drove a Buick to casinos and restaurants, showing off their extravagant lifestyle in public places in front of local Chinese residents. One year later, Wang and Hao had a daughter and lived a very comfortable life.
However, gang members who had been previously blackmailed by him in Fuzhou asked a US-based Chinese gang to force Wang to pay back the money. These gang members threatened Wang that if he didn’t return the money they would cut off Hao Wen’s hands and Wang’s feet. In order to protect her, Wang and she separated, and he hid her in another place.
Six months later, Hao Wen met another Chinese millionaire in the United States and started to live together with him, spending most of her time away from Wang.
In the second half of 2005, Wang was diagnosed with liver cancer. During his illness, Hao never visited him, not even once.
On June 10, 2007, desperately struggling with cancer, Wang left behind only one sentence before he passed away, “All that happened is retribution.”
Read the original Chinese article.
