Murderer must pay back £48k he stole
THE murderer who killed his gambling pal, dismembered his body and bundled it into a suitcase has been ordered to pay back tens of thousands of pounds he stole from his victim.
Professional fraudster Ming Jiang, 43, killed Yang Liu at his flat in Beswick and dumped his torso in a suitcase found burned in a lay-by next to the A628 near Tintwistle in Derbyshire, with his limbs never being recovered.
His murder trial was told the ‘insatiable gambler’ then stole Mr Liu’s identity in a bid to steal his money and assets and pay off his debts of nearly £275,000.
Jiang transferred ‘significant sums of money’ from the accounts of Mr Liu, who was supported by his family back in China, to his as well as using his credit cards and trying to acquire the deeds so he could sell Mr Liu’s £185,000 flat at Salford Quays.
He denied the killing, but was found guilty by a jury. He refused to go into court to hear his sentence when he was jailed for life in May.
Jiang was hauled back before the courts as the authorities set about recouping as much of his ill-gotten gains as possible, through the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).
Scores of items had been taken from Mr Liu and destroyed, including the Mercedes car Jiang used to transport and dump the 36 year-old’s body.
Jiang again refused to come out of his cell at the Minshull Street Crown Court hearing.
A judge was told he had ‘completely refused to engage’ in the process, refusing to speak to his own legal team in prison.
It was said Jiang ‘wanted no further part’ in the proceedings.
Rob Hall prosecuting, said it was a remarkable set of circumstances: “He is refusing to come out of his cell and has submitted nothing in response to the Crown’s statement.” Guy Mathieson, defending, said: “We couldn’t challenge the confiscated items such as the cash, watches etc. The only possible argument is around the £40,000 bank transfer and its origin. He did eventually agree to come out of his cell and we were able to explain the consequences of non-participation and the likely effects of orders made against him.” He was ordered to pay £48,188 by Judge John Potter within three months or risk another 12 months being added to his sentence.
Jiang was jailed for life and cannot be considered for parole for 33 years.
Judge Potter also ordered the permanent forfeiture and destruction of dozens of items confiscated from Jiang on arrest, including, phones, computers, household items he used in the murder and subsequent cleanup, and the Mercedes he used to transport the body. prosecutor Ming Jiang