Focus

Bogus cop charged with conning couple

By Zhang Yan (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-06-18 07:55

A man who allegedly impersonated a police officer and carried out an elaborate sting to cheat a couple and their friend out of 2.2 million yuan has been detained by Fengtai police.

Liu Chunjiang, the press officer attached to Fengtai police station, said 35-year-old Li Jun, from Shandong province, employed an actor to help trick the couple and their friend out of the money.

Liu said Li paid the actor to impersonate a court official and tricked the couple - Zhang Jun and his girlfriend Wang Yan - and their friend, Li Rui, out of the money.

Liu said Zhang met the suspect in 2008 at a party. Li was wearing a police uniform at the time and claimed to be an officer. The men became friends and stayed in touch, said Liu.

The police press officer said Zhang and Wang were preparing to get married in April 2010 but could not afford a house with property selling for around 25,000 yuan per sq m.

Liu said Li told the couple his uncle was vice director at a local court and he claimed the court was involved in the sale of three houses by auction in Chaoyang district. The suspect allegedly told the couple he could secure the homes for them for a mere 7,000 yuan per sq m, thanks to his family relationship.

The police officer said Li told the couple they would have to pay all the money in advance of the April 15 auction, as well as an additional 100,000 yuan in "commission."

To complete the con trick, Li allegedly hired a middle-aged man to play the role of the court official.

Police said Li told the man a play was being filmed with hidden cameras and he said he needed a supporting actor for a scene. The man was paid 500 yuan to deliver his lines in a restaurant in the Ganluyuan area of Chaoyang district, said Liu.

While they were at the meeting with the bogus official, Wang answered a phone call from her friend, Li Rui, who heard about the super-cheap housing the couple expected to buy and Li rushed to the restaurant looking to also profit from the dodgy transaction.

Liu said Li Jun gave the three people copies of an apparent housing agreement and said they could pick up the keys after the April 15 auction.

Liu said the suspect told the three: "Don't worry, the houses are sure to belong to you as long as you pay out all the money before the court hearing."

Liu said Li also gave the three copies of his police badge and his ID card to ease any worries they may have had.

The couple and their friend paid 1.8 million yuan and 410,000 yuan respectively into the suspect's bank account on April 14, said Liu and agreed to meet Li the next day to collect their keys.

But Liu said the suspect didn't show up and could not be reached on his mobile, prompting the three to report the matter to Fengtai police.

Officers found Li's police badge was a fake but the ID card was genuine and police rushed to Weihai city, Shandong province, and located Li's girlfriend. They also discovered Li had just paid 510,000 yuan for a new apartment and had spent 250,000 yuan on a car. He had also spent an additional 300,000 yuan.

Police subsequently arrested Li on May 31 in Weihai and transported him to Beijing where he is awaiting trial.

Liu said Li has made a full confession to police. He said he bought his bogus police uniform and police badge on the Internet in 2008. Liu said Li has also confessed to forging the housing documents and court verdict copy.

Liu said police have so far succeeded in getting back 1.1 million yuan of the victims' money.