Life sentence confirmed for terrorism organizer

WUHAN: A Chinese national jailed for life for leading terrorist organizations had his sentence confirmed by the High People's Court of Central China's Hubei Province on Friday.

Peng Ming, who had been extradited from Myanmar, was also convicted at a trial in October of kidnapping and holding fake currencies.

Friday's verdict ruled he should be deprived of his political rights for life and fined 35,000 yuan (US$ 4,300).

The hearing was told that since November 2000, Peng promoted violence and terrorism, recruited terrorists and incited kidnapping, murder and other terrorist activities by publishing books and Internet articles. He also formulated teaching schemes on terrorism.

To obtain funds for his activities, Peng masterminded, organized and directed six kidnappings in Wuhan, Changsha and Beijing from early 2002 to May 2004.

The court found that Peng plotted and established a terrorist training base in Myanmar from June 2003 to early 2004.

Peng was arrested by Myanmar police on May 22, 2004 and was handed over Peng to Chinese judicial authorities in accordance with bilateral agreement.

The Intermediate People's Court of Wuhan, capital of Hubei, issued a verdict in the first instance trial in October, and Peng raised an appeal.

Source: China Daily