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"It's too easy to bring down a company"? A place in Shandong was accused of "demanding a fine of 21 million yuan", the official response

On August 13, a recording of "I don't have the ability to support a company, but it's too easy to destroy a company" and "I have 50 million yuan in political achievements every year" was widely forwarded. Upstream News (reporting email: [email protected]) reporters learned that this statement was made by an enforcement officer of the Chengwu County Market Supervision and Administration Bureau of Shandong Province during the communication with the company involved in the case.

Law enforcement officials said, "It's too easy to destroy a company." Image source/video screenshot

On August 14, the law enforcement officer involved, Zhang, responded that the company had taken his words out of context and that he had been punished for making inappropriate remarks.

Upstream News reporters learned that the incident was related to a suspected online pyramid scheme case investigated by the Chengwu County Market Supervision Administration. According to the "Administrative Penalty Notice" issued by the Chengwu County Market Supervision Administration on July 29, 2024, in addition to confiscating illegal gains, the Market Supervision Administration also imposed a total penalty of 5.4 million yuan on the three companies involved.

According to the case-related information obtained by Upstream News reporters, the company involved mentioned in the complaint materials that during the investigation and handling of the case, Zhang, an enforcement officer of the Chengwu County Market Supervision and Administration Bureau, had many unreasonable and irregular enforcement situations, including remarks made during the communication with the company. Multiple recordings show that Zhang said: "To put it bluntly, I really don't have the ability to support an enterprise, and it's too easy to bring down an enterprise. If you catch a small problem and magnify it, the enterprise will be finished." Regarding the company's proposal to provide contracts and other evidence to cooperate with the investigation, the staff member said: "It doesn't matter if you provide it or not, as long as the negotiation is not good, everything is equivalent to being invalid." At the same time, the law enforcement officer also mentioned that (this year) 21 million of the 50 million government achievements have been completed, and there is still a shortfall of 29 million.

Administrative notice of punishment of the enterprise involved. Image source/Photo provided by the interviewee

On August 13, the recording was made public and attracted attention. On August 14, Zhang, the law enforcement officer of Chengwu County Market Supervision Administration, responded to the reporter of Upstream News that the recording content "I am not capable of supporting an enterprise, but it is too easy to destroy an enterprise" was taken out of context by the enterprise. "I have said this in many places. It is not easy for us to support an enterprise, but it is too easy to destroy an enterprise. Therefore, we must be cautious when filing a case. If there is no sufficient evidence, do not file a case." Zhang said. As for the statement of 50 million yuan in political achievements, Zhang explained that he just said it casually at the time and just wanted the enterprise to actively cooperate. He has been dealt with for making untrue remarks and speculative language.

Zhang said: "The case has now entered the hearing stage."

A reporter from Upstream News contacted the office of Chengwu County Market Supervision Administration. After learning of the intention of the interview, the staff said that they would report to the leadership and then respond. As of press time on the morning of August 15, the bureau's office had not yet responded.

According to the Cover News report, a staff member of the Propaganda Department of the Chengwu County Party Committee responded that the case details related to the enterprises involved had been reported to the relevant departments in Tangshan, Hebei Province during the handling process; Zhang, a staff member of the Chengwu County Market Supervision Bureau involved in the recording materials, has been transferred from his post for investigation, and other circumstances of the incident are still under investigation.

Upstream News reporter Shi Tingting