Early this year, a billionaire in China was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. The death sentence was supposed to be carried out on 14-Oct, but was halted at the very last moment. You think the situation of someone galloping to the execution ground and yells "刀下留人" ("dao xia liu ren", or hold your horses) to save the person who's about to be beheaded only happens in ancient China or TVB drama? The news here (in Chinese) has the full story.
For those who can't read Chinese, the article basically says that this billionaire is filthy rich. He asked his wife to give RMB50 billion to the country (China) in exchange of the suspension of his death sentence. There is no mention if the death sentence had been revoked, or whether or not he would still be imprisoned. According to the news, he seemed to have lots of assets overseas, which are now all under the custody of his wife.
I'm really not sure what to make of this piece of news. If money can even buy a life now, then i really don't know what else it can't buy. This whole thing just seems wrong! Ya, RMB50 million is a huge sum, but we are talking about a murderer here. I'm not gonna argue in this post about whether or not capital punishment should be abolished. If that is the law of the country, then all being convicted had to abide by it. How could one escaped death with money, while the others without such wealth just have to die? So are we saying that rich people can commit crime and get different treatment when convicted?
Hmmm, with that much of money, if i were the wife, i would probably take all the money and just leave the man to rot and die. Oops, i guess i'm not any better than the murderer or the Chinese government huh?!
