A court in Shangqiu in northern China has sentenced 14 middle-aged women to between two and 11 years in prison for “organizing, leading and participating in gangster-like organisations”, according to Business Insider.
The women used tactics including shouting, insulting and spitting to collect money for a range of disputes including medical expenses and construction projects.
One alleged victim said that the “hooligans” had stripped and chased him, which injured his groin, and cost him 1000 yuan ($110) in medical costs. Another said 10 ‘grannies’ had camped outside his home “intimidating his family”.
In total, the gang allegedly had around 30 members – average age 50 – who were unemployed or living on low incomes and were mainly recruited from outdoor ballroom dancing groups that meet in the public squares in Shangqiu.
The Beijing News talked to one member, who denied there was ever any physical violence, saying she joined because she “had nothing to do” and it was just “a lot of fun”. The gang members were paid up to 200 yuan ($38) per day, plus meals.
The man who organised them was also jailed for 11 years – rightly so – but the women say they plan to appeal the verdict.
Victims of circumstance?
