Five tourists from Dunhuang's "trapped public toilet" pit were controlled for forced trading. After
using the soft sand in front of the toilet to trap passing tourists and vehicles, they took the opportunity to forcibly demand towing fees, suspected of forced trading; two of them were detained.
The "trapped public toilet" incident in Dunhuang, Gansu continues to cause concern.
According to netizens, the so-called "trapped public toilet" means that people passing by want to use the "public toilet". As a result, when the vehicle is parked in front of the "public toilet", it falls into a sandpit and the trailer needs to pay the towing fee to a nearby off-road base.
On the afternoon of September 15th, the Dunhuang Public Security Bureau issued a notice stating that the operators involved in the off-road base had illegal and criminal activities, and had arrested 5 criminal suspects suspected of forced trading crimes and detained 2 of them in accordance with the law.
Many tourists told the Beijing News reporter that they had trapped a car in front of the "trapped public toilet" and were charged a high towing fee by the staff of the off-road base involved.
Yesterday, the Beijing News reporter saw at the scene that the "public toilet" and surrounding buildings were being demolished.
Rescue card is required for rescue
On September 13, a series of videos called "Public Toilets for Tourists in Dunhuang, Gansu" attracted attention.
The video publisher is a travel blogger named "Small Fan Travelling".
On the 14th, the blogger Mr. Yu introduced that the video was taken at about 18:00 on August 17, when he was passing the section of G215 National Highway from Aksai to Dunhuang and found a RV trapped in the sand next to a "public toilet".
Mr. Yu said that when he parked his car on the side of the road, he found a rope tied to the front of the RV, trying to help the trailer, but a staff member of a shop near the public toilet stepped forward to stop him, "He untied the rope. Said that I do not have a rescue card and cannot help."
The video showed that the two parties had a dispute because of this, during which the shop staff had insulted, slapped the car windows, etc.
The driver of the trapped RV also questioned, "Can't he help me drag it? Why are you stopping him?"
Mr. Yu said that, as a travel blogger, he often encountered car traps on the road and often helped rescue him. For the first time, he was required to have a rescue certificate during the rescue.
In addition, the above-mentioned shop staff also told the owner that they can help tow the trailer at a cost of 1,500 yuan.
After the two sides stood in a stalemate for about an hour, the shop staff left, and Mr. Yu finally helped drag the trapped RV out.
5 suspects arrested for forced trading crimes
The above-mentioned video quickly attracted attention after its release.
On the afternoon of the 14th, a reporter from the Beijing News asked the Dunhuang Culture and Tourism Bureau about this matter. A staff member surnamed Sun said that they have paid attention to the above situation. Currently, Dunhuang Culture and Tourism Bureau, Market Supervision Bureau, Natural Resources Bureau and other relevant departments A joint operation has been launched and the matter is being investigated and verified.
"We are investigating whether the sandpit that caused the vehicle to fall into the original pit, or was deliberately dug, and whether the public toilet is a public toilet or a private construction also needs to be further verified."
On the evening of the 14th, the official Weibo of the Foreign Propaganda Office of Dunhuang City announced that a joint investigation team was formed by Dunhuang City to investigate the operators involved. At present, the operators involved have been ordered to suspend business for rectification; the Dunhuang City Public Security Bureau has collected relevant evidence , Summon the persons involved in accordance with the law.
At noon on the 15th, the Dunhuang City Public Security Bureau issued a police report stating that on September 13, some netizens posted a video entitled "Public Toilets for Tourists Specializing in Pit", reflecting that some people used public toilets to lure passing vehicles into the desert and then asked for towing fees.
On the morning of September 14th, our bureau investigated the off-road base involved and found that there were illegal and criminal behaviors among the operators, and the case was filed for investigation.
As of the morning of September 15, 5 criminal suspects suspected of forced trading crimes have been arrested.
The above notification shows that since March 2019, the suspect Di Mouru (37 years old, native of Dunhuang, Gansu, with a criminal record of intentional harm) has operated the "Kum Tower" at 607 kilometers of the 215 National Highway, which is more than 50 kilometers away from the urban area of Dunhuang. "Ge Desert Off-road Base", built toilets, yurts and other facilities, hired Li and others as employees, and operated desert off-road, sandboarding and other projects.
When passing vehicles were trapped in the soft sand in front of the toilet on the roadside, Di Mouru and others took the opportunity to forcibly demand the towing fee and prevent others from rescuing.
At present, the Dunhuang City Public Security Bureau has detained the criminal suspects Di Mouru and Niu Mouxing in accordance with the law, and the case is under further investigation.
Yesterday, a reporter from the Beijing News saw at the "trapped public toilet" incident that the involved "public toilet" and surrounding auxiliary facilities were being demolished.
A staff member who carried out the demolition work at the site said, “There is sand at the entrance of this base. We locals know that we cannot drive into the sand when driving. As long as the car enters the sand, it is very likely that the vehicle will be trapped. Foreign tourists do not understand. The situation may drive the car into the sand."
■ Follow up
Tourists recall the car stuck: the kind driver was sent away
Tourist Ms. Han recalled that in early May this year, she and her husband drove on the G215 national highway.
When it was more than 50 kilometers away from the downtown area of Dunhuang, Ms. Han happened to see a "public toilet" next to the off-road base that was exposed by netizens, and parked the car on the side of the road, "The toilet door is locked and it is called an off-road base. Staff come to drive."
Ms. Han said that after coming out of the toilet, they found their car was stuck in the sand, so they asked the staff to help, "The staff will charge 300 yuan towing fee."
Then Ms. Han began to ask the passing drivers for help, "Several well-meaning drivers came to help." However, the staff has been dismissing the passing drivers and not letting the passing drivers help the tow truck.
"They said to the drivers,'What happened on our site, we help solve it,' and the drivers left."
After waiting for nearly two hours, Ms. Han and her husband’s car has not been dragged out.
"I don't dare to have a head-on conflict with them," Ms. Han said.
Upon seeing this, the staff ran over to "bargain" with Ms. Han, and finally agreed to only charge 50 yuan for towing.
"I was very angry at the time and felt that we were pitted."
"I will never forget the toilet, I will recognize it as soon as the video comes out."
Another tourist, Ms. Mi, had a similar experience.
Ms. Mi said that a car was caught at the time. A staff member from a nearby store immediately stepped forward and said, “Drag a car for 400 yuan.” Ms. Mi said that another car got stuck in front of the bathroom 10 minutes later. We helped each other with the owner before we dragged the car out."
Ms. Mi also recalled that at the time the staff also said that if one person paid 290 yuan for sand washing, he would be able to tow for free.
■ Statement
Lawyer: The maximum penalty for the crime of forced trading is not less than three years but not more than seven years in prison
Han Xiao, a lawyer at the Beijing Kangda Law Firm, told the Beijing News that the base personnel involved in the "trapped public toilets" were suspected of forcing others to provide or receive services, and they were suspected of forced transactions.
According to Article 226 of the Criminal Law, the use of violence or threats with serious circumstances constitutes a crime of forced trading, and shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years or criminal detention, together with or a fine; if the circumstances are particularly serious, the punishment shall be imposed. Fixed-term imprisonment for not less than three years but not more than seven years, and a fine.
The lawyer reminded that before traveling, it is recommended that tourists prepare a travel strategy in advance, learn more about the local customs and travel precautions of the destination; during the travel process, they must raise their awareness of prevention, beware of unreasonable things or enthusiastic people who take the initiative to help. To avoid falling into the trap, keep the help phone numbers of relevant local departments and seek official help in time.
If you are deceived, do not admit yourself to bad luck, and do not engage in illegal private remedies. You should do a good job of collecting evidence and report the case to the public security department in time to protect your legitimate rights and interests.
Written in this edition/Beijing News reporter Liu Ruiming Ma Jun Wang Yi intern Gao Xinran