Mom accused of exploiting adopted kids
A woman in Hebei province was detained on Saturday on suspicion of racketeering and disturbing social order, making use of her many adopted children.
Li Lijuan, 48, was known as a loving mother who had adopted more than 100 children since 1996, some with physical or mental disabilities. Several media outlets told her story in recent years, mostly praising her.
She kept the children at Wu’an Private Welfare Loving Village in Shangquan village in Wu’an, a city in Handan.
It was shut down on Friday for failing to submit materials for inspection to local authorities as required for the past four years, according to a government notice reported by thecover.cn.
After the shutdown, the Wu’an civil affairs bureau said in a written notice that it had resettled 77 children it found to local health centers or hospitals. The children will receive health examinations or, if necessary, medical treatment, it said, adding that they will live together, and all their needs for living, education and medical services will be guaranteed by the government.
According to a statement released by the publicity department of Wu’an, Li’s name is Li Yanxia.
“It is undeniable that Li did make efforts to help and raise the adopted children, with some having got rid of diseases and some growing up from babies to adults,” the statement said. However, her personal desire for money grew as the “charity cause” brought in large amounts of money, donated by warmhearted people who wanted to help.
Using the children as an excuse, Li also asked for money from local government organs by saying that it would be used for heating, rental expenses or basic living.
According to a preliminary investigation by the local police, Li owned more than one house in downtown Wu’an and Handan.
She also had luxury cars and savings of more than 20 million yuan ($3 million) under her name in banks.
In addition to receiving donations, Li also obtained money through extortion, the statement said.
She once gained more than 170,000 yuan from a hotel by saying that her waist was hurt after taking an elevator with problems in the hotel, the statement said, listing additional cases.
“If those being extorted didn’t give money as asked, Li would take her adopted children to make trouble for them,” the statement said, adding that she got her lover — who is on the run from police — to threaten people with gangs.
If the children failed to obey her, she would beat, intimidate or starve them, it said. The victims did not expose Li until last year when some local people familiar with the matter reported her to government.
More reports on Li have been submitted by local residents since the country began to crack down on gang-related crimes earlier this year. An investigation is ongoing.