Sexual harassment Shenzhen official in trouble on the Internet, and with the cops

Human flesh search engine identifies official

In the last few days, China’s energetic Internet users have identified an official accused of sexually harassing an 11year-old girl in a restaurant in Shenzhen.

From ChinaSMACK:

On the evening of October 29, 2008, a big-bellied man around 50-years-old asked an 11-year-old little girl for directions to the restroom. After the girl kindly told him, he claimed he still was not clear, and asked her to lead the way for him. Then, he grabbed her neck and tried to force her into the men’s restroom…

The girl managed to escape and ran back to her parents who confronted the man. He was unapologetic:

“I did it, so what? How much money do you want, give me a price. I will pay it!”

Arrogantly pushing and pointing at the girl’s father, he also said:

“Do you know who I am? I was sent here by the Beijing Ministry of Communications, my level is the same as your mayor. So what if I pinched a little child’s neck? Who the fuck are you people to me?! You dare fuck with me? Just watch how I am going to deal with you.”…

…As soon as this news was posted on the internet, Chinese netizens immediately began a human flesh search for the man in the white shirt. They very quickly found pictures of him and identified him as Lin Jiaxiang, a party secretary of Shenzhen Maritime Administration.

Surveillance camera footage from the restaurant showing most of the events described above is on Chinese video site Youku.com. The Shanghai Daily this morning published a report on the affair, confirming Lin’s identity and official position. According to the article:

Lin was now suspended from work and would be “severely punished,” Wang Jianhua, deputy head of the maritime bureau said, citing decisions from the Ministry of Transportation.

Xinhua has reported on the case without mentioning the Internet storm about it, and mentions that the police have not found any eye witnesses to the act of harassment, only people who saw the argument between the girl’s parents and the official. The report says that the police will hold a press conference in the next few days to clarify the status of their investigation.