War criminals’ confessions publicized

    China on July 3 started publishing confessions* made by 45 Japanese war criminals tried and convicted* by military tribunals* in China after World War II.

    Handwritten confessions, along with Chinese translations and abstracts in both Chinese and English, were published on the website of the State Archives Administration.

    Harsher punishment

    A lawyer is helping a gang-rape victim’s family seek harsher* punishment for the teenagers responsible for the attack in Guangdong Province last year, it was reported on July 2.

    Li Binquan, a lawyer from Guangdong Guohui law office, has volunteered to take the case, the Nanfang Rural Daily said.

    The ringleader*, surnamed Dong, 17, was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Another 17-year-old was sentenced to five years and nine months. Three others were given three-year terms while the remaining seven received three-year terms suspended* for four years and 11 months. All were aged between 14 and 17.

    Arson behind bus fire

    A bus fire that injured 32 people in East China’s Hangzhou on Saturday was caused by arson*.

    Police have found that the fire was ignited* by banana oil. A man seriously injured in the incident is suspected to have been the arsonist*. He is being treated in a hospital along with 28 others. No deaths were reported.

    The fire broke out at around 5 p.m. on Saturday when the No. 7 line bus carrying 80 people was at the intersection between Dongpo Road and Qingchun Road in downtown Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province.

    Factory ordered to close

    Operations at an electronics processing factory in Guangdong Province have been suspended for an investigation. It is suspected of employing underage workers.

    The halt at the Okaya Electronics Plant was imposed* by local labor supervision officials following an inspection on July 2, during which nearly 200 children were found to be working at the factory. The company denied any wrongdoing.(SD-Agencies)