[vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” padding_top=”50″ css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”center” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” padding_top=”50″ padding_bottom=”50″ css_animation=””][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1517373139965{background-image: url(http:\/\/asiallians.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Picture1.png?id=18554) !important;}”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]What Criminal Liabilities You Face During the NCP Epidemic<\/span><\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”70px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” padding_bottom=”100″ css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_column_text]On February 10, 2020, the Supreme People\u2019s Court, the Supreme People\u2019s Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security, and Ministry of Justice released the Opinions of Punishing the Crimes Impairing the Prevention and Control the Epidemic of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (the \u201cOpinions\u201d).1<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n In general, the Opinions, based on the PRC Criminal Law, list ten opinions on dealing with the recent eye-catching crimes, which severely undermine the prevention and control of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (\u201cNCP\u201d) epidemic. The goal of the Opinions is to provide PRC judicial authorities with a guidance on adjudicating the recent epidemic-related crimes so as to apply laws accurately. We hereby highlight the following points for you.<\/p>\n 1. Endangering public safety<\/strong><\/p>\n Deliberately concealing infections and refusing to be quarantined may be charged with\u00a0the crime of endangering public safety by dangerous means<\/strong><\/em>, which is stipulated in article 114 and 115 of the PRC Criminal Law and offenders could face a minimum of 3 years in prison. If causing serious injury, death or other bad results, the offenders could also be jailed for life sentence or even sentenced to death.<\/p>\n The Opinions further clarify that only under the following two circumstances, the offenders can be charged with this crime:<\/p>\n (1) Individuals who have been confirmed to be NCP patients, refuse to be quarantined or leave without permission, and enter public places or take public transportation. Currently, some individuals have been put under criminal investigation on the crime of endangering public safety by dangerous means:\u00a02<\/a><\/sup>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”32184″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” qode_css_animation=”” link=”#_ftn2″][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]2. Obstructing the prevention and treatment of NCP epidemic<\/strong><\/p>\n According to the Opinions, other individuals who refuse to execute the prevention and control measures and thus lead to the spread of novel coronavirus or a danger of the spread of novel coronavirus shall be charged with\u00a0the crime of obstructing the prevention and treatment of epidemic<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0which is stipulated in article 330 of PRC Criminal Law and offenders could face an imprisonment of not more than 3 years or criminal detention. If the consequences are serious, the offenders could also be sentenced to an imprisonment of not less than 3 years but not more than 7 years.<\/p>\n Currently, some individuals have been arrested on the crime of obstructing the prevention and treatment of epidemic:\u00a03<\/a><\/sup>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”32185″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” qode_css_animation=”” link=”#_ftn9″][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n As mentioned in our previous legal update4<\/a><\/sup>, it is worthy to pay attention that Article 330 of the PRC Criminal Law also applies to enterprises when they fail to perform the obligations stipulated under the PRC Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases Law.5<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0To be specific, the PRC Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases Law provides that enterprises have the following obligations during the NCP epidemic:<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0An enterprise shall promptly report to the nearby institution of disease prevention and control or medical institution when it finds NCP cases or suspected cases.6<\/a><\/sup> In practice, when an enterprise fails to take proper protective measures, monitor the NCP situation among its employees, and report the information to authority after or even before resuming work, the enterprise and its high management officers may face the risk of criminal liability.<\/p>\n 3. Obstructing public service<\/strong><\/p>\n Obstructing the governmental officials to control the NCP outbreak by means of violence or threat may be charged with\u00a0the crime of obstructing public service<\/strong><\/em>, which is stipulated in article 277 of the PRC Criminal Law and offenders could face an imprisonment of less than 3 years or criminal detention. If attacking police on duty, harsher punishment will be granted for the same charge.<\/p>\n Recently two cases have been adjudicated under the crime of obstructing public service:9<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”32186″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” qode_css_animation=”” link=”#_ftn9″][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n 4. Sales of counterfeit goods<\/strong><\/p>\n During the period of NCP epidemic prevention and control, producing or knowingly selling medical equipment, such as surgical masks, goggles, protective clothing which do not meet the standard of safeguarding the people\u2019s health, may be charged with\u00a0the crime of producing and selling medical equipment not complying with the standard<\/strong><\/em>, which is stipulated in Article 145 of the PRC Criminal Law and offenders may face an imprisonment of less than 3 years and a fine of not less than 50% but not more than twice the amount of sales. If causing serious injury or other serious consequences, harsher punishment may be imposed. In addition, Article 145 also applies to enterprise\u2014a violating enterprise may be imposed fine and persons in supervision or directly responsible may be punished accordingly.10<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Recently two cases have been under criminal investigation on the crime of producing and selling medical equipment not complying with the standard:11<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”32187″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” qode_css_animation=”” link=”#_ftn9″][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]5. Price gouging<\/strong><\/p>\n Hoarding materials urgently needed for NCP epidemic prevention and control, such as masks, goggles, protective clothing, and disinfectant, in large quantities, raising prices to obtain high profits, and the illegal amount is large or other serious circumstances exist, may be charged with\u00a0the crime of illegal business operations<\/strong><\/em>, which is stipulated under Article 225 of the PRC Criminal Law and offenders may face an imprisonment of less than 5 years and a fine of less than one time but not more than five times of the illegal income. If the circumstances are extremely serious, harsher punishment will be granted. This crime also applies enterprises\u2014a violating enterprise may be imposed fine and persons in supervision or directly responsible may be punished accordingly.12<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0For example, in Tianjin, a large pharmacy is under the criminal investigation on the crime of illegal business operations for raising the price of masks and disinfectant.13<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Price gouging may also cause administrative penalty. For example, in Shanghai, Carrefour Supermarket dramatically raised the sale price of 15 varieties of vegetables without obvious fluctuation of purchase price, and it was imposed a fine of 2 million RMB.14<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n 6. False advertising<\/strong><\/p>\n During the period of NCP epidemic prevention and control, using advertisements to give false publicity to the commodities or services under the guise of NCP epidemic prevention and control, therefore cheating many people and the illegal amount is large, may be charged with\u00a0the crime of false advertising<\/strong><\/em>, which is stipulated in Article 222 of the PRC Criminal Law and offenders may face an imprisonment of less than 2 years and fines.<\/p>\n This crime also applies enterprises\u2014a violating enterprise may be imposed fine and persons in supervision and directly responsible may be punished accordingly.15<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0For example, in Tianjin, a large pharmacy falsely publicized that the ordinary drugs “antiviral pills” and “heat-clearing and detoxifying capsule” are able to prevent NCP and the pharmacy had sold 3584 boxes. The pharmacy is under the criminal investigation.16<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n 7. Spreading false information<\/strong><\/p>\n Falsely fabricating and spreading NCP epidemic information on the network or other medias, or knowingly spreading the false information on the network or other media, seriously disrupting social order, may be charged with\u00a0the crime of fabricating and intentionally spreading false information<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0which is stipulated in Article 291 of the PRC Criminal Law and offenders may face an imprisonment of less than 3 years. If causing serious consequence, the longer imprisonment may be imposed. Lesser degree fabricating and spreading may result in administrative penalty.<\/p>\n For example, in Tianjin, a man fabricated the false information in Wechat\u2019s friends circle, causing social panic. Therefore, he was arrested by police bureau.17<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n 8. Harm to medical workers\/police officers<\/strong><\/p>\n During the period of NCP epidemic prevention and control, tearing up protective equipment of medical staff or spitting medical staff and causing NCP infection of medical staff may be charged with\u00a0the crime of intentional injury<\/strong><\/em>, which is stipulated in Article 234 of the PRC Criminal Law and offenders may face an imprisonment of 3 to 10 years. If causing peoples\u2019 death or serious injury, the imprisonment may go up to death penalty. By now, we have not found any case adjudicated under this charge.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1.<\/a>\u00a0See:\u00a0http:\/\/www.moj.gov.cn\/government_public\/content\/ 2.<\/a>\u00a0See:\u00a0http:\/\/www.lg.gov.cn\/xxgk\/xwzx\/lgyw\/202002\/t20200205_18999104.htm<\/a> 3.<\/a>\u00a0See:\u00a0http:\/\/news.hangzhou.com.cn\/zjnews\/content\/2020 4.<\/a>\u00a0See:\u00a0http:\/\/asiallians.com\/china-legal-update-coronavirus 5.<\/a>\u00a0Under Article 330 of the PRC Criminal Law, an enterprise that violates the obligations under the PRC Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases Law, refuse to execute the preventive and control measures, and thus causes the spread or great danger of the spread of A Class infectious disease shall be fined. Furthermore, the persons directly in charge or being responsible shall be punished accordingly.<\/p>\n 6.<\/a>\u00a0Article 31 of the PRC Law on Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases<\/p>\n 7.<\/a>\u00a0Article 33 of the PRC Law on Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases<\/p>\n 8.<\/a>\u00a0Article 64 of the PRC Law on Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases<\/p>\n 9.<\/a>\u00a0See:\u00a0https:\/\/mp.weixin.qq.com\/s\/2VPo825VrThWYeiwt8cBHg<\/a> 10.<\/a>\u00a0Article 150 of the PRC Criminal Law<\/p>\n 11.<\/a>\u00a0See:\u00a0http:\/\/www.xinhuanet.com\/legal\/2020-02\/01\/c_1125520345.htm<\/a> 12.<\/a>\u00a0Article 231 of the PRC Criminal Law<\/p>\n 13.<\/a>\u00a0See:\u00a0https:\/\/www.guancha.cn\/politics\/2020_01_28_533506.shtml<\/a><\/p>\n 14.<\/a>\u00a0See:\u00a0http:\/\/www.cqn.com.cn\/zj\/content\/2020- 15.<\/a>\u00a0Article 231 of the PRC Criminal Law<\/p>\n 16.<\/a>\u00a0See:\u00a0http:\/\/news.cctv.com\/2020\/02\/02\/ 17.<\/a>\u00a0See:\u00a0https:\/\/baijiahao.baidu.com\/s? <\/p>\n
\n(2) Individuals who are suspected to be NCP patients, refuse to be quarantined or leave without permission, enter public places or take public transportation, and result in the spread of novel coronavirus.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022\u00a0An enterprise shall take the initiative to collect, analyze, investigate and verity information on NCP cases and suspected cases.7<\/a><\/sup>
\n\u2022\u00a0An enterprise shall take effective sanitary and protective measures and medical care and health measures to employees who are in contact with NCP patients\/ novel coronavirus during the production or work, further the enterprise shall offer such employees reasonable allowance.8<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n
\n2020-02\/10\/tzwj_3241048.html<\/a>\u00a0(last visited by Feb.12, 2020).<\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.jhs.gov.cn\/162.news.detail.dhtml?news_id=84298<\/a><\/p>\n
\n-02\/13\/content_7675028.htm?open_source=weibo_search<\/a>
\nhttp:\/\/news.sina.com.cn\/s\/2020-02-12\/doc-iimxyqvz2326978.shtml<\/a><\/p>\n
\n-outbreak-china-shall-enterprises-pay-attention\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/news.sina.cn\/gn\/2020-02-09\/detail-iimxxstf0060542.d.html<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/news.sina.com.cn\/o\/2020-02-08\/doc-iimxxste9732129.shtml<\/a><\/p>\n
\n01\/31\/content_8095308.htm<\/a><\/p>\n
\nARTIQoj9NzmLj5r6JLoJVCG9200202.shtml<\/a><\/p>\n
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