[4] Compiled from: Red Star News

[5] On the evening of January 10, Tong Zhuo posted on Weibo: "It wasn't me who cheated on the college entrance exam; it was some people who cheated on my behalf."

 

Case review

[6] According to the indictment recently released by the People's Procuratorate of Yaodu District, Linfen City, Shanxi Province, some staff members of the Linfen City Education Bureau involved in the Tong Zhuo case have been prosecuted.

 

According to the indictment issued by the People's Procuratorate of Yaodu District, Zhang Moumou worked in a certain department of the Linfen City Bureau, and Peng Moumou worked in the Basic Education Department of the Linfen City Education Bureau.

The procuratorate's investigation found that in July 2012, Su Yingze, then of the Basic Education Department of the Linfen City Education Bureau, illegally handled a school transfer for Tong Zhuo. On May 30, 2020, during the investigation by relevant departments, Su Moumou, in order to complete Tong Zhuo's transfer files, arranged for the defendants Peng Moumou and Zhang Moumou to forge relevant materials. Subsequently, the two, at an advertising department operated by defendant Liu Moumou, forged Tong Zhuo's permanent residence registration card and placed it into Tong Zhuo's student file.

 

The procuratorate believes that the defendants Zhang Moumou, Peng Moumou, and Liu Moumou forged documents of state organs, with clear criminal facts and sufficient evidence, and should be held criminally liable for the crime of forging documents of state organs. The defendants Zhang Moumou, Peng Moumou, and Liu Moumou have confessed and accepted punishment, and according to Article 15 of the Criminal Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China, they may be dealt with leniently.
 
 
"Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China"

Article 280

Whoever forges, alters, buys, sells, steals, forcibly seizes, or destroys official documents, certificates, or seals of state organs shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention, public surveillance, or deprivation of political rights, and shall also be fined; if the circumstances are serious, the offender shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than ten years, and shall also be fined.

Whoever forges seals of companies, enterprises, institutions, or people's organizations shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention, public surveillance, or deprivation of political rights, and shall also be fined.

Whoever forges, alters, or buys or sells resident identity cards, passports, social security cards, driver's licenses, or other documents that can be used to prove identity according to law shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention, public surveillance, or deprivation of political rights, and shall also be fined; if the circumstances are serious, the sentence shall be fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than seven years, and a fine shall also be imposed.

[1] The author's perspective

The incident of Tong Zhuo fabricating his status as a fresh graduate caused a huge stir, not only ruining his own career but also dragging his parents and a series of related individuals into trouble. This seemingly simple act of forging fresh graduate status actually involves multiple charges upon closer examination. This article mainly discusses the crime of forging documents of state organs involved.

Because documents produced by state organs play a decisive role in certain areas and aspects of society, they serve as important credentials and means for carrying out management activities. Any act of forging documents of state organs will affect their normal management activities, damage their reputation, and thus disrupt social management order. Therefore, this crime infringes upon the normal management activities and credibility of state organs.

At this point, Tong Zhuo posted on Weibo claiming: "It wasn't me who cheated in the college entrance exam; some people cheated on my behalf." This is likely an attempt to extricate himself from the muddy waters, but it is almost impossible. Not only does the internet have a memory, but the Central Academy of Drama has also revoked his graduation certificate. Moreover, Tong Zhuo himself admitted in a previous live stream to fabricating his fresh graduate status, showing he was aware of this illegal act. As the person involved, how could he possibly wash his hands cleanly? As the saying goes, "If you don't want others to know, don't do it." Paper can never wrap fire.