Chinese billionaire pig farmer jailed for causing unrest | China

Sun Dawu, a billionaire Chinese pig farmer and agricultural mogul, was sentenced after weeks of secret hearings to 18 years in prison and fined 3.11 million yuan (345,000) for a catalog of crimes, including provoking unrest, in a case that observers see as politically motivated.

Gaobeidian court near Beijing said Sun was guilty of crimes including gathering a mob to attack state organs, obstructing government administration, and sparking quarrels and unrest , a catch-all term often used against human rights figures and dissidents.

Sun, a staunch supporter and friend of Chinese political dissidents, was arrested on November 11 alongside more than 20 others, including his wife, two sons and daughters-in-law.

Groups including Chinese human rights defenders (CHRD) say the lawsuits are apparent retaliation for Suns’ long-standing support and friendships with Chinese dissidents, even after nationwide campaigns targeting them made such claims. increasingly dangerous associations.

When the government violates its own laws in order to silence those who can afford to uphold commitments to social justice and official accountability, it deeply undermines the vitality of the Chinese economy and its leaders promise to rule by law. law, Ramona Li, a senior researcher at CHRD, said at the start of the Suns trial this month.

Sun, who turned 67 this month according to his lawyers, is a former pig farmer who founded the Dawu Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Group. The billion-dollar business has approximately 9,000 employees and a purpose-built corporate town that Sun is said to have run to reflect his vision of an equitable rural society, with residents having free or discounted access. health care, school and entertainment facilities.

Suns’ achievements were initially praised by officials, and he became a local representative of China’s governing body. But he also used his success to lend his support to human rights lawyers and dissidents, and was arrested in 2003 for published criticism of the state.

According to China Change, a news outlet, during the preliminary stages, Sun described himself as an outstanding member of the Communist Party and denied many of the charges against him, including those related to the misuse of funds. .

Sun admitted to making mistakes, including posting online messages and unspecified errors on the land issue.

The way they investigate me now makes our loved ones suffer and those who hate us rejoice. I wish to shoulder the charges, even if they are severe, in exchange for the release of others. We are people who have made contributions to society, he said.

The case comes amid a large-scale crackdown in recent months against private companies and entrepreneurs in China. Large tech companies have been investigated and their executives questioned and ordered to downsize or be fined, including Jack Mas Ant Group and Alibaba.

In September, Ren Zhiqiang, a former real estate mogul who criticized Xis’ handling of the pandemic in an online essay, was jailed for 18 years for corruption.

Additional report from Agence France-Presse