Chinese officials release typical cases involving crackdowns on imitating novel plots, excavation of ancient tombs, etc.

China News Service, Beijing, October 10 (Reporters Zhang Su Yingni) China's Supreme People's Court and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage jointly released six typical cases of punishing cultural relic crimes in accordance with the law on the 10th, which involve cracking down on illegal activities such as organizing the excavation of ancient tombs that imitate the plots of tomb robbing novels.

The case of "Yu Moucai's excavation of ancient tombs" released this time shows that Yu Moucai was obsessed with tomb robbing novels, taught himself tomb robbing techniques and purchased tools. In 2023, Yu Moucai and others agreed twice to jointly rob ancient tombs. They searched and determined the location of ancient tombs alone or with others, and jointly excavated and stolen 23 cultural relics such as bronze weapons with inscriptions, jade ornaments, copper pots, and bronze tripods. After identification, the two stolen tombs were ancient tombs from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty and have important historical, artistic and scientific value.

The court held that Yu Moucai collaborated with others to rob ancient tombs that were designated as provincial cultural relics protection units and stole precious cultural relics. His behavior constituted the crime of robbing ancient tombs. Yu Moucai was sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined.

The Supreme Court pointed out that tomb robbery novels are literary interpretations, and the characters and storylines are heavily exaggerated and fantasy-like, which is essentially different from the legal and legal archaeological exploration and other cultural relics protection work in reality. The perpetrators who engage in unauthorized activities such as drilling and other tomb exploration, as well as excavation, blasting and other excavation activities, may constitute a crime and be held criminally responsible.

In addition, the "Guo Moujun Intentional Damage to Cultural Relics Case" released this time makes it clear that those who unilaterally pursue corporate profits and ignore cultural relics protection laws and regulations, resulting in the loss of cultural relics, will be convicted and punished in accordance with the law. The "Tang Mousheng reselling cultural relics case" makes it clear that anyone who accidentally picks up cultural relics for reselling during production and life constitutes a crime and must be convicted and punished in accordance with the law.

In recent years, local courts have insisted on cracking down on source-based criminal activities such as illegal excavation, theft, and theft, professional and gang-based criminal activities, and criminal activities that seriously endanger the management order of cultural relics. They have imposed severe penalties in accordance with the law, continue to form a strong judicial deterrent, and effectively curb cultural relic criminal activities.

At present, China's cultural relics security situation is complex. Cultural relics crimes are becoming increasingly specialized, intelligent, and professional, and are gradually spreading to the Internet. Major cultural relics crime cases occur from time to time. The Supreme People's Court stated that the people's courts will give full play to their judicial functions, enforce strict and fair administration of justice, and punish all types of cultural relic crimes in accordance with the law. (over)