Lan Fu
Encyclopedia
Lan Fu is a former deputy mayor of Xiamen Municipality, China
. He was convicted in 2000 on corruption charges related to a US$6 billion smuggling racket and is currently serving a life sentence in prison.http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ASIANOW/east/11/08/china.corruption/
On June 4, 2005, former Chinese diplomat Chen Yonglin
alleged that, earlier in 2000, Lan's son, Lan Meng, had been kidnapped from his university in Sydney
, Australia
by Chinese agents. Chen contended that Meng was kidnapped to compel his dissident father to return to China. However, Lan was never accused of dissidence and his lawyer, Zhu Yongping, denied that kidnapping played a part in Lan's return. Zhu insisted his client had given himself up voluntarily. On June 10 Chen appeared to retract the accusation, commenting only that, "I said that in fear, and I don't want to talk about it again."
On June 22, however, Chen provided further details, naming Zhang Jin, Deputy Director of the Third Department of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, as the official responsible for the abduction. He also alleged that a drug called "du zing" was used to render Lan Meng unconscious and that he was transferred via fishing boat to a Chinese cargo ship.
An investigation by the Weekend Australian found that Lan Meng, then 18, was living in the Melbourne
suburb of Sandringham
from November 1999 until November 2000. They determined that he was in Australia for at least three months before Lan Fu returned to China. Lan Meng was located in Melbourne by the Australian Federal Police on July 7 and, when interviewed, requested that his statements be kept secret. On the basis of his testimony, the AFP "concluded there's no substance to the allegation."http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/fadt_ctte/asylum/report01/c05.htm
Other Australian media have also reported on the alleged kidnap claim
Lan Fu's wife, Lai Chongxin, also reported to be on China's wanted list in connection with the Xiamen scandal, is believed to still reside in Australia.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. He was convicted in 2000 on corruption charges related to a US$6 billion smuggling racket and is currently serving a life sentence in prison.http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ASIANOW/east/11/08/china.corruption/
On June 4, 2005, former Chinese diplomat Chen Yonglin
Chen Yonglin
Chen Yonglin is a former Chinese diplomat who sparked fears of a diplomatic incident through his defection to Australia in the summer of 2005. The episode highlighted the tensions faced by China's trade partners when concerns arise from that nation's human rights record...
alleged that, earlier in 2000, Lan's son, Lan Meng, had been kidnapped from his university in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
by Chinese agents. Chen contended that Meng was kidnapped to compel his dissident father to return to China. However, Lan was never accused of dissidence and his lawyer, Zhu Yongping, denied that kidnapping played a part in Lan's return. Zhu insisted his client had given himself up voluntarily. On June 10 Chen appeared to retract the accusation, commenting only that, "I said that in fear, and I don't want to talk about it again."
On June 22, however, Chen provided further details, naming Zhang Jin, Deputy Director of the Third Department of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, as the official responsible for the abduction. He also alleged that a drug called "du zing" was used to render Lan Meng unconscious and that he was transferred via fishing boat to a Chinese cargo ship.
An investigation by the Weekend Australian found that Lan Meng, then 18, was living in the Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
suburb of Sandringham
Sandringham
Sandringham can refer to:Places*Sandringham, Johannesburg, a suburb of Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa*Sandringham, Norfolk, a village in Norfolk, England*Sandringham House in the aforementioned village, owned by the British Royal Family...
from November 1999 until November 2000. They determined that he was in Australia for at least three months before Lan Fu returned to China. Lan Meng was located in Melbourne by the Australian Federal Police on July 7 and, when interviewed, requested that his statements be kept secret. On the basis of his testimony, the AFP "concluded there's no substance to the allegation."http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/fadt_ctte/asylum/report01/c05.htm
Other Australian media have also reported on the alleged kidnap claim
Lan Fu's wife, Lai Chongxin, also reported to be on China's wanted list in connection with the Xiamen scandal, is believed to still reside in Australia.