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Wang Lijun: gang-busting cop whose crackdowns caught a politician's eye Wang Lijun: gang-busting cop whose crackdowns caught a politician's eye
(8 days later)
Before the ambitious young policeman arrived, locals called Daming "Little Hong Kong". It was a peculiar nickname for the dust-blown, semi-rural strip on the outskirts of an industrial town in north-eastern China.Before the ambitious young policeman arrived, locals called Daming "Little Hong Kong". It was a peculiar nickname for the dust-blown, semi-rural strip on the outskirts of an industrial town in north-eastern China.
The phrase was not a tribute to Daming's ambitions; rather, a caustic joke about the gangs that infested it, extorting money from businesses and robbing residents.The phrase was not a tribute to Daming's ambitions; rather, a caustic joke about the gangs that infested it, extorting money from businesses and robbing residents.
"But after Wang Lijun came, the hooligans didn't even dare drink after midnight," said a restaurant owner."But after Wang Lijun came, the hooligans didn't even dare drink after midnight," said a restaurant owner.
Long before the Chongqing police chief's flight to a US consulate made headlines – toppling the local leader, Bo Xilai, and triggering Gu Kailai's trial for murdering Briton Neil Heywood – he knew how to make an impact.Long before the Chongqing police chief's flight to a US consulate made headlines – toppling the local leader, Bo Xilai, and triggering Gu Kailai's trial for murdering Briton Neil Heywood – he knew how to make an impact.
He claimed to have wrestled a suicide bomber to the floor just seconds before the man detonated his explosives. He boasted about love letters from awed young women and that his classmates at police academy had nicknamed him "tiger general". But for all the self-mythologising, he succeeded in winning popular acclaim.He claimed to have wrestled a suicide bomber to the floor just seconds before the man detonated his explosives. He boasted about love letters from awed young women and that his classmates at police academy had nicknamed him "tiger general". But for all the self-mythologising, he succeeded in winning popular acclaim.
As Bo's loyal aide, he led a dramatic campaign against organised crime, which built the politician's profile nationwide – and echoed the crackdowns Wang spearheaded in his earlier career; even, some say, in their disregard for procedural niceties.As Bo's loyal aide, he led a dramatic campaign against organised crime, which built the politician's profile nationwide – and echoed the crackdowns Wang spearheaded in his earlier career; even, some say, in their disregard for procedural niceties.
Like his patron, he was tall and image-conscious, a populist who used dramatic stunts to enhance his standing, a transparently ambitious risk-taker who made many enemies.Like his patron, he was tall and image-conscious, a populist who used dramatic stunts to enhance his standing, a transparently ambitious risk-taker who made many enemies.
But unlike his boss, the "princeling" son of a veteran red family, Wang was born with few advantages. His parents worked on the railways and in a textile factory.But unlike his boss, the "princeling" son of a veteran red family, Wang was born with few advantages. His parents worked on the railways and in a textile factory.
Now 52, Wang, grew up in north-eastern Liaoning province and served in the army – where he met his wife – before joining the police, initially as a traffic policeman.Now 52, Wang, grew up in north-eastern Liaoning province and served in the army – where he met his wife – before joining the police, initially as a traffic policeman.
His devotion to duty was such that he chose to holiday in Beijing, where – rather than sightseeing – he spent hours standing at major road junctions, watching the traffic officers work.His devotion to duty was such that he chose to holiday in Beijing, where – rather than sightseeing – he spent hours standing at major road junctions, watching the traffic officers work.
Once back home, he used the photographs he had taken to practise his gestures and hand signals.Once back home, he used the photographs he had taken to practise his gestures and hand signals.
Wang soon worked his way through the ranks, boasting that the police university had trained him as a special agent, with mastery in multiple martial arts. By the time he arrived in Daming, in Tieling city, as police director in the early 90s, the pattern appeared to be set.Wang soon worked his way through the ranks, boasting that the police university had trained him as a special agent, with mastery in multiple martial arts. By the time he arrived in Daming, in Tieling city, as police director in the early 90s, the pattern appeared to be set.
While one resident said his tactics were rough and ready, most recall his zero-tolerance approach fondly; one older woman recalled weeping when he left for a higher post in Tieling.While one resident said his tactics were rough and ready, most recall his zero-tolerance approach fondly; one older woman recalled weeping when he left for a higher post in Tieling.
Within a few years, he had been praised as a "national model worker" and inspired a TV drama series, Iron-Blooded Police Spirits. Zhou Lijun, the scriptwriter, spent 10 days following Wang and described the police chief standing on his car and firing into the air as he arrived at low-level busts.Within a few years, he had been praised as a "national model worker" and inspired a TV drama series, Iron-Blooded Police Spirits. Zhou Lijun, the scriptwriter, spent 10 days following Wang and described the police chief standing on his car and firing into the air as he arrived at low-level busts.
On one round of anti-prostitution raids, a search of a hairdressing salon found no sign of anything shady. But Wang ordered subordinates to cart off a young man with dyed yellow hair anyway. "A man with hair like that can't be any good," he barked.On one round of anti-prostitution raids, a search of a hairdressing salon found no sign of anything shady. But Wang ordered subordinates to cart off a young man with dyed yellow hair anyway. "A man with hair like that can't be any good," he barked.
Wang told Zhou he was as disposable as chewing gum in an official's mouth – "When the official cannot taste anything, he will spit it on to the ground."Wang told Zhou he was as disposable as chewing gum in an official's mouth – "When the official cannot taste anything, he will spit it on to the ground."
"He was very disappointed that I didn't use his real name … and that he couldn't play himself in the TV series," wrote Zhou, who has declined interviews since Wang's fall."He was very disappointed that I didn't use his real name … and that he couldn't play himself in the TV series," wrote Zhou, who has declined interviews since Wang's fall.
Some suspected that the officer hyped his life-and-death struggle with triads. Neighbours recalled seeing him with the family he supposedly sent away for their protection.Some suspected that the officer hyped his life-and-death struggle with triads. Neighbours recalled seeing him with the family he supposedly sent away for their protection.
The rising star attracted Bo's attention. When the politician moved to Chongqing, he took Wang along to spearhead his dramatic "strike the black" anti-gang campaign.The rising star attracted Bo's attention. When the politician moved to Chongqing, he took Wang along to spearhead his dramatic "strike the black" anti-gang campaign.
Officials said that no one was above justice; even the former deputy police chief was executed for sheltering criminals. Many in the city welcomed the crackdown, saying it had freed them from the tyranny of organised crime. Wang, already the subject of the hagiography Siberian Tiger Legend, commissioned a four-volume history to immortalise the campaign.Officials said that no one was above justice; even the former deputy police chief was executed for sheltering criminals. Many in the city welcomed the crackdown, saying it had freed them from the tyranny of organised crime. Wang, already the subject of the hagiography Siberian Tiger Legend, commissioned a four-volume history to immortalise the campaign.
But others saw the drive as brutal, callous and selective, leaving those with ties to Bo unscathed.But others saw the drive as brutal, callous and selective, leaving those with ties to Bo unscathed.
There was particular concern at the prosecution of a lawyer, Li Zhuang, for "falsifying evidence" after he said his client had been tortured. "He trampled on the laws. Many people were tortured so they would admit crimes. [He caused many] unfair, unjust legal cases," said Li, who served 18 months.There was particular concern at the prosecution of a lawyer, Li Zhuang, for "falsifying evidence" after he said his client had been tortured. "He trampled on the laws. Many people were tortured so they would admit crimes. [He caused many] unfair, unjust legal cases," said Li, who served 18 months.
Wang was dedicated, if erratic. He was hard on his staff – sometimes checking on police stations overnight – and he boasted of performing postmortems in his spare time.Wang was dedicated, if erratic. He was hard on his staff – sometimes checking on police stations overnight – and he boasted of performing postmortems in his spare time.
He also found time to patent more than 150 inventions, including a hostess trolley and a phone booth all but identical to Britain's traditional red boxes. Most of the devices, however, related to his day job. They ranged from police cars to helmets with integral fans for hot weather and a jacket for desk-bound officers with special stretchy sleeves to allow a wide range of arm movements.He also found time to patent more than 150 inventions, including a hostess trolley and a phone booth all but identical to Britain's traditional red boxes. Most of the devices, however, related to his day job. They ranged from police cars to helmets with integral fans for hot weather and a jacket for desk-bound officers with special stretchy sleeves to allow a wide range of arm movements.
It would, explained the filing, ensure that staff looked good and did not tire at their duties. At least two of the items went into production and were bought by Chongqing police, presumably to the inventor's benefit. The force had a 2.68bn yuan (£260m) budget in 2010.It would, explained the filing, ensure that staff looked good and did not tire at their duties. At least two of the items went into production and were bought by Chongqing police, presumably to the inventor's benefit. The force had a 2.68bn yuan (£260m) budget in 2010.
In May 2011, Wang's efforts won him another promotion, with Bo appointing him vice-mayor of Chongqing. It would prove to be the peak of his career.In May 2011, Wang's efforts won him another promotion, with Bo appointing him vice-mayor of Chongqing. It would prove to be the peak of his career.
Less than a year later, Wang fled to Chengdu's US consulate after telling Bo he believed Gu guilty of murder. Now he is beginning a 15 year jail term.Less than a year later, Wang fled to Chengdu's US consulate after telling Bo he believed Gu guilty of murder. Now he is beginning a 15 year jail term.
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