Courts detain 8 in crack down on compensation payments

By Li Xinran  |   2008-11-17  |     ONLINE EDITION

TWO Shanghai courts detained eight people today in an operation to help winning plaintiffs receive court-ordered compensation.

All eight have refused to clear payments in accordance with court orders, according to a press release by Putuo District People’s Court.

The enforcement chamber of Putuo District People’s Court launched the three-day campaign today.

In one case, Shen Hua, who served an 18-month jail sentence, was detained early today as he has refused to compensate the family of a victim he killed in a traffic accident.

Shen killed cyclist Yu Yonghua while driving a truck with a fake army plate at Jinshajiang Road near Zhongjiang Road in January 2007.

The Putuo court ordered Shen to pay about 300,000 yuan (US$44,000) in compensation to the victim’s family. He has yet to pay, according to the press release.

The enforcement chamber also detained four others for not paying court-ordered compensation.

The court also helped 12 migrant workers obtain a combined 50,000 yuan in back wages.

Meanwhile, Hongkou District People’s Court dispatched more than 30 officers to clear 12 uncompleted payments.

Officers held more than 10 people in a two-hour operation that began at 5:30am. Three have been detained, the press release said.

In one case, a man identified as Zhao claimed he was insolvent and has refused to pay for more than two years.

Zhao, who ran a food workshop, owed a food company more than 200,000 yuan for material purchases between June and July 2006.

However, court officers found Zhao had just decorated his apartment.

The court said Zhao had broken his promises several times after reaching agreement with the company on payment.

The Hongkou court said it would put him in custody for 15 days as punishment.