IN BRIEF

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-16 13:39

Taxi scam steals $4,400

Three men, who cheated 30,000 yuan ($4,400) from three taxi drivers by claiming they ran a taxi company, were arrested, the Beijing Times reported on Saturday.

The three drivers paid 10,000 yuan each as a vehicle guarantee in an application to the phony taxi company.

The company asked for time to run background checks but had disappeared in September when the drivers followed up their applications.

Police arrested three suspects on Wednesday.

Haidian secretary appointed

Zhao Fengtong, a standing member of the Party's Beijing municipal committee, has been announced as secretary of the Party's Haidian district committee, the Beijing News reported on Saturday. He will also act as Party secretary of Zhongguancun Science Park administrative committee. A standing member of the Party's municipal committee is rarely asked to head a district committee, which might signify the city's focus on the technology-based district. Former district Party secretary Tan Weike was transferred to the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences.

Two killers executed

A 30-year-old man, who raped and strangled a woman to death on Aug 27, 2007, was executed on Friday, the Beijing Times reported on Saturday.

Hu Changfeng stopped his victim, surnamed Li, when she was walking alone in Chaoyang district. He struck her head with a rock and then attempted to strangle her. Finally he raped Li and then left her to die. Hu also stole her mobile phone and other valuables. A man who killed and robbed a taxi driver for 100 yuan on Aug 5, 2005 was also executed on the same day.

Protest leaders charged

Four villagers, who led more than 150 others to block the road in front of the municipal government, were charged with disrupting social order at Miyun county court, the Beijing Times reported yesterday.

The four villagers managed a group to block the gate and shout in front of the city's government building on June 15, protesting on land ownership disputes in their village.

The four men were arrested on July 8.

The case is still pending.