Family threatened by feared gang henchman
MOTHER AND SON LIVING IN FEAR FOLLOWING BLACKMAIL
A STUDENT and his mother were issued with gruesome death and amputation threats in a blackmail plot orchestrated by a recruit to a fearsome Chinese gang.
Yongqin Gu went from promising master’s student to henchman within five months of coming to the UK after a ruthless Fujian gang got him to work for them.
Gu then began chatting to a Newcastle-based Chinese student and asked him to transport money from Glasgow to the North East.
The student, who cannot be named for legal reasons, believed the amount was around £3,000 and agreed, only to find out it was actually £120,000.
When he tried to back out, he was told his mum would be harmed, so he went ahead with it. However customs officers then raided the Newcastle student’s home and seized the money, which was the proceeds of organised crime.
Gu, on behalf of the gang, then started demanding the cash was paid back, warning the student’s mum he would shoot her if it was not and telling her son he would have his leg cut off.
After offering to arrange to pay the money by selling their house, the family eventually reported the matter to the police.
And while Gu has now been jailed for blackmail, the victims are living in fear of revenge attacks from the gang, who have a reputation for serious violence in the Chinese community.
The son said in a statement read to Newcastle Crown Court: “We are very worried about what is going to happen. We have left our home and don’t know if we will ever be able to go back because these people will now want revenge from us because we have told the police.”
Gu, 26, of Castlebank Street, Glasgow, pleaded guilty to blackmail and was jailed for three years, with a restraining order banning him from contacting the victims.
Judge Tim Gittins said it was not clear what criminal enterprise generated the £120,000 but that the Fujian gangs are known to be heavily involved in people-trafficking.
The judge added: “Blackmail is often described as murder of the soul and certainly yours was and your actions had an immediate and chilling effect on this family, particularly given the violent reputation of the gang you said you belonged to.”
Jonathan Cousins, defending, said: “Chinese students are targets for Chinese gangs to be recruited as they are in the UK legitimately with visas.”
Mr Cousins said Gu has lost his good name, has tarnished the reputation of his family, has lost the chance to complete his master’s in computer technology at Strathclyde University and faces deportation after he has served his sentence.