Abductees' buyers told to turn themselves in

The Ministry of Public Security is urging buyers of abducted women or children to turn themselves in to local police as soon as possible, saying those who confess before Nov 1 will not be punished under a harsher new anti-human-trafficking law.

Under the Ninth Amendment to the Chinese Criminal Law, passed by the top legislature over the weekend, buyers of abducted individuals will face tougher penalties and criminal liability. The law takes effect on Nov 1.

Police will detain buyers in trafficking cases who have been exempt until now. Those charged with rape, intentional injury or illegal detention of women or children are subject to stiff punishments, although lighter ones are possible in cases where the individual was not physically harmed.