"You have been unlucky lately, because there are spirits on your body, and you can resolve it by reading the Bible and kowtowing to me every day." Li originally ran a vegetarian shop. Since the business of the store was not doing well, he preached that asking people to eat vegetarian would accumulate merit and eliminate disasters. At the same time, customers are often encouraged to give alms. It was in this process that Zhang Mei (pseudonym) got acquainted with Li's family. Since Zhang Mei showed a great interest in Buddhist culture, Li introduced his father to Zhang Mei. Li's father often discussed Buddhist ideas with Zhang Mei on WeChat.
In late October 2022, Zhang Mei exchanged some Buddhist insights with Li's father. Li's father said that Zhang Mei was recently subjected to two "spirits", and told Li about it. After Li found out, he made Zhang Mei further believe in the fact that she was attacked by a spirit through WeChat chat, and said that she had been practicing for tens of thousands of years and had the ability to help her solve problems.
And when Zhang Mei asked Li how to help him drive away the "evil things", Li vaguely said that he needed "sincerity". then asked Zhang Mei to transfer 50,000 yuan. "Because he hinted at me many times at the time, I took his word for it, and when he asked for it, I just transferred it to him."
From October 21 to 25, 2022, defendants Li and Li's father asked Zhang Mei to read the Bible at home every day, kowtow, avoid contact with outsiders, talk, etc., and Zhang Mei complied one by one. During this period, Li also lied that he was injured due to driving away the "spirits" and that Zhang Mei still had "dirty things" on her body, and defrauded Zhang Mei of 50,000 yuan again. After being tossed for a few days, Zhang Mei suddenly woke up and finally chose to call the police.
After investigation, Li successively defrauded Zhang Mei of more than 100,000 yuan, and all the defrauded money was used to purchase wealth management products and personal consumption.
In the end, after the Shanghai Huangpu District Procuratorate initiated a public prosecution, the Huangpu District Court convicted the defendant Li of fraud and sentenced him to three years and six months in prison and a fine of 10,000 yuan.
According to the prosecutor
Article 266 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China stipulates that whoever defrauds public or private property, and the amount is relatively large, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, short-term detention or controlled release, and/or a fine; where the amount is huge or there are other serious circumstances, a sentence of between 3 and 10 years imprisonment and a concurrent fine is to be given; where the amount is especially huge or there are other especially serious circumstances, a sentence of 10 or more years imprisonment or indefinite imprisonment is to be given, and a concurrent fine or confiscation of property. Where this Law provides otherwise, follow those provisions.
Wang Zhanghui, Prosecutor of the First Procuratorate Department of the Huangpu District People's Procuratorate:
It is necessary to believe in science, improve the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, and break down feudal superstition. Don't trust others, transfer money at will on WeChat, and when you are not feeling well, you should go to a regular hospital for medical treatment in time and trust the doctor.
Reporter / Zou Jia
Editor / Fan Lujia
Image / Internet
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