A public official who assaulted his elderly mother will face severe punishment without leniency for violating laws and discipline.
Compiled from: The Paper, Southern Daily
Case review
On November 26, a video of a woman assaulting her elderly mother went viral online in Jiamusi, Heilongjiang. The video shows the woman repeatedly pushing and slapping her mother, shouting, "Sign the papers!" Despite someone intervening, she continued the assault.
On the 29th, the Jiamusi Natural Resources and Planning Bureau stated that the woman is a civil servant in their unit. The disciplinary inspection and supervision authorities have initiated an investigation and will handle the matter according to regulations and law. Public security has decided to detain the woman for 15 days and fine her 1,000 yuan. The police are investigating the motive, and the unit will release a notice to provide an explanation. The Women's Federation and community will take responsibility for caring for her mother.
"Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China"
Article 260
Whoever maltreats a family member under severe circumstances shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than two years, criminal detention, or public surveillance. If the crime in the preceding paragraph causes serious injury or death to the victim, the offender shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than two years but not more than seven years.
Public Security Administration Punishments Law of the People's Republic of China
Article 43
Whoever assaults another person or intentionally injures the body of another person shall be detained for not less than five days but not more than ten days and shall also be fined not less than 200 yuan but not more than 500 yuan; if the circumstances are relatively minor, they shall be detained for not more than five days or fined not more than 500 yuan. Under any of the following circumstances, they shall be detained for not less than ten days but not more than fifteen days and shall also be fined not less than 500 yuan but not more than 1,000 yuan:
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(2) Assaulting or injuring a disabled person, a pregnant woman, a person under the age of fourteen, or a person aged sixty or older;
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Article 45
Whoever commits any of the following acts shall be detained for not more than five days or given a warning:
(1) Abusing a family member, where the abused person requests handling
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The Law of the People's Republic of China on Administrative Discipline for Public Officials
Article 40
Acts of domestic violence, abuse, or abandonment of family members, as well as other serious violations of family virtues and social ethics, shall be subject to warnings, demerits, or major demerits; if the circumstances are relatively severe, demotion or removal from position shall be imposed; if the circumstances are serious, expulsion shall be imposed.
[1] The author's perspective
In this case, the woman involved who beat her mother has aroused public outrage and indignation, not only because such unfilial behavior violates the bottom line of human ethics, but also because she is a public official who should have been a good role model for the people, yet turned into the ugliest demon.
It is reported that the public security authorities in Jiamusi City imposed an administrative penalty on Wang due to the determination that she beat an elderly person over 60 years old. Such behavior has infringed upon others' right to bodily integrity and health, but has not yet reached the level of a crime. Therefore, according to the Public Security Administration Punishments Law, Wang was detained for 15 days and fined 1,000 yuan. If Wang's act of beating her mother had constituted a crime, it would be handled according to Article 260 of the Criminal Law mentioned above; however, if the circumstances were minor, the procuratorial authority could decide not to prosecute, or the people's court could exempt her from criminal punishment. Additionally, due to Wang's status as a public official, according to Article 40 of the Law on Administrative Discipline for Public Officials, the disciplinary inspection agency will also impose corresponding sanctions on Wang.
Lambs kneel to suckle, and crows feed their parents in return—animals even know gratitude, let alone humans? This incident not only educates those who beat their parents but also serves as a warning to public officials who are unfilial. Abiding by the law and respecting the elderly are fundamental principles that every family and every child should uphold.
