Couple attacks judges, court officers with acid over loan dispute in China

Court officials hit with acid in China

BEIJING — A couple attacked two judges and four court officers with sulphuric acid as they were attempting to seize their home in southern China over a loan dispute, state media reported Wednesday.

The judges, identified as Changzhou District Presiding Judge Liao Kedong and Judge Wu Zhibin, were badly injured by the couple, who were arrested after the Tuesday assault in southern Guangxi province, said China National Radio.

A staffer from the district office confirmed the attack took place but refused to give further details.

The attack was triggered by a loan dispute involving Chen Hongsheng and his wife, Liao Fengjuan, China National Radio said. The couple owed 300,000 yuan ($44,000) to six others and refused to pay it. They were sued in court, and the judge decided to seize their home in repayment.

When the court officers turned up at Chen’s home, the couple doused them all in sulphuric acid, badly injuring Liao and Wu. Both were hit in their eyes, the report said, and they may partially lose eyesight as a result.

The attack took place a week after a man shot to death three judges and wounded three others inside a court in central China.

Public violence is rare in China but a spate of vicious attacks in recent months — including several on schoolchildren — has shocked China.

In the court rampage last week, the attacker was identified as a 46-year-old man who reportedly held a grudge against the court over a ruling it made in a property division dispute three years ago between him and his wife, who were going through a divorce.

Although guns are tightly controlled in China, Zhu Jun had been head of security at the Lingling district post office and was able to access the automatic assault rifle he used in the attack.