Last month, an incident involving Chinese students violently assaulting a peer in the U.S. attracted widespread attention. The victim, Liu, was stripped of her clothes, burned on her nipples with a cigarette butt, had her hair set on fire with a lighter, was forced to eat sand while lying on the ground, and had her hair shaved off and forced to eat it. During this time, someone recorded abusive photos and nude images of Liu. The entire ordeal lasted for 5 hours, leaving Liu covered in bruises, with a swollen face, and unable to stand on her feet. Ultimately, the U.S. prosecution made a ruling, sentencing the two main perpetrators to life imprisonment, with a total bail amount reaching $6 million, exceeding 36 million Chinese Yuan. The media reported this as the highest bail amount for international students in U.S. history.
Local media reported that the nature of this case is extremely severe, the methods used are brutal, the number of people involved is high, and the nature of the crimes is serious, which is rare in U.S. criminal cases. "These children are brutal and cruel, lacking any sense of law and humanity." Even more embarrassing, some of the defendants' parents attempted to bribe the victim and witnesses after coming to the U.S. to settle the matter privately, but were immediately arrested. It is said that the two defendants were completely bewildered when they first appeared in court, thinking that a student fight would only result in a reprimand from the school, and that expulsion was out of the question. They did not expect to face the possibility of serving a life sentence in the U.S.
Perhaps everyone is as "dazed" as the defendants involved — that is, the high level of attention from California law enforcement. Not only did the local prosecutor actively file charges, but the local court also took the matter very seriously, showing no sympathy simply because they are students, and proceeded entirely according to legal procedures, upholding the principle of equality before the law for everyone. Even more astonishing is that one of the parents of the six defendants attempted to "settle the matter with money," but was arrested for allegedly bribing a witness.
How do they view the severe penalties of foreign laws?
Many parents of the involved Chinese students feel "very wronged," believing that their children were merely present and did not participate in the violence, thus expressing confusion over the charges and warrants.
Local Chinese lawyers stated: "The most important thing is the U.S. criminal law, which has a felony murder rule. If children jointly engage in a criminal act, all involved must bear the heaviest punishment. This case highlights the ignorance of international students regarding U.S. law."
Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey also expressed her views: "When we send our children abroad, we need to ensure they must abide by the laws of that country, (making them aware) that their home country's judicial system and laws do not apply here. If you cannot accompany your child, you must communicate with them as much as possible and help them prepare for their studies and life here."
Today, studying abroad and immigration have become a trend and a fashion. According to the U.S. Chinese Times, authoritative data shows that over a million international students came to study in the U.S. in the past year, with 42% being Chinese, accounting for half of the international student population in the U.S. Providing better educational opportunities and future development space for their children is a dream choice for parents! WorldWay Immigration experts remind: International students should abide by local laws, and parents should communicate more with their children to ensure they successfully complete their studies and can develop in the U.S. For more information, please call: 400-138-2929