[The Epoch Times, August 8, 2024](Epoch Times reporter Ning Haizhong reported) A lawyer from mainland China has published case materials online regarding a theft, insult, and intentional destruction of corpses. Reports from Chinese media indicate that the case involves a biomaterials company that allegedly stole and resold thousands of corpses to manufacture “allogeneic bone implant materials,” generating revenue of 380 million yuan. The implicated company is a subsidiary of the China National Nuclear Corporation, which is the largest state-owned enterprise in the country. Currently, many reports from mainland media have been deleted.
Chinese lawyer discloses: Over 4,000 corpses were sold
On the afternoon of August 8, lawyer Yi Shenghua shared on Weibo, “I was talking with a lawyer friend yesterday afternoon and discovered this case. It sent chills down my spine. I’ve been a criminal lawyer for many years and have dealt with various cases, but this is the first time I’ve felt so shocked and enraged. Everyone has a deceased loved one; who would dare to think that their family member might endure such ‘brutal dismemberment’ after death (as indicated in the prosecution’s opinion, evoking scenes from a movie)? How can anyone be sure that the ashes received are genuine?”
Lawyer Yi Shenghua expressed his despair as he noted that the current law only allows for a maximum punishment of less than three years for these criminals, without any fines.
He questioned, “With such enormous profits and such lenient consequences, how many individuals would be tempted to engage in similar actions?”
An hour later, Yi Shenghua posted again on Weibo, stating, “I received a call from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice asking whether it was appropriate to reveal information about pending cases. I appreciate the staff’s concern. To change this disturbing state of affairs, I am willing to accept the consequences of this harsh reality.”
(Network screenshot)
The media outlet The Paper reported on the afternoon of the 8th that materials shared online by lawyer Yi Shenghua indicated that from January 2015 to July 2023, Shanxi Ori Biomaterials Co., Ltd. (hereafter referred to as Shan Ori) allegedly purchased human remains and dismembered limbs illegally obtained from Sichuan, Guangxi, Shandong, and other regions for use as raw materials. During the purchasing and production processes, the illegally acquired corpses and bones were processed to produce “allogeneic bone implant materials.”
The report mentioned that after auditing, the total revenue from 2015 to 2023 reached 380 million yuan. During the investigation, police confiscated more than 18 tons of human skeletal raw materials and semi-finished products, along with 34,077 finished products from the involved company.
Case materials reveal that from 2017 to 2019, the suspect Su Moumou gained control over the crematoriums of four funeral homes through contracting, share ownership, and by placing individuals at those facilities. Su Moumou was accused of organizing personnel at the crematorium to steal bodies, brutally dismember them in the cremation workshop, and transport the remains back to his company. Some dismemberment also occurred at his company.
Su Moumou admitted that the above-mentioned four crematoriums supplied a total of over 4,000 human skeletons to his company.
According to reports, there are 75 suspects in this case, and entities involved include Shanxi Orui Company, Sichuan Hengpu Technology Co., Ltd., Shandong Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital Liver Disease Center, Guilin Medical College, Guilin City Funeral Home, Pingle County Funeral Home, Yongfu County Funeral Home, and others. The case also covers crematoriums controlled by Su Moumou in Shuifu City, Yunnan, Banan District, Chongqing, Shiqian County, Guizhou, and Daying County, Sichuan.
At noon on August 8, Yi Shenghua told The Paper that he obtained the aforementioned case materials from insiders, confirming their authenticity. He reportedly is not the defense attorney in this case.
Netizens in mainland China expressed their shock, stating remarks like: “The pursuit of profit consumes the heart.” “I wouldn’t dare to produce a film like this.” “Such companies should face severe penalties.” “It’s horrifying. Is there no limit to making money?” “This is terrifying.”
Some users commented, “Allograft bone is utilized in dental clinics to fill defects in periodontal, maxillary, and mandibular bones. Among them, block allograft bone is commonly used to mend defects in the alveolar ridge before implant surgery or to augment alveolar bone in patients with significant ridge atrophy.”
As per the official website of the Food and Drug Administration of the Communist Party of China, Shanxi Orui’s allogeneic bone implant material consists of human bone that has been deep-frozen, freeze-dried, subjected to surface demineralization or fully demineralized, formed into the shapes required for orthopedics, and sterilized and packaged, making it suitable for filling bone defects, repairing, reinforcing, and spinal fusion. In clinical treatments for patients with comminuted limb fractures, bone transplantation is frequently necessary. Allogeneic bone implant materials are currently the most commonly used in orthopedic procedures.
According to reports, the aforementioned case materials indicated that Shanxi Orui Company was established as a subsidiary by the China Institute of Radiation Protection in 1999, focusing on the research, development, production, and sale of “allogeneic bone implant materials.” It has been led by a general manager named Li.
Details of the case show that beginning in 2007, Shanxi Orui Company gradually introduced Cong Moumou and Su Moumou to acquire shares in the China Radiation Research Institute and its employees. By 2012, Cong Moumou had obtained 54.08% of the shares, becoming the largest shareholder, legal representative, and chairman; Su Moumou held 45.92% of the shares and served as the general manager, while Li Moumou effectively managed the company’s operations.
From 2015 to 2023, Li Moumou, Su Moumou, and others directed employees to transport human bones to locations including Guilin, Guangxi, and Chengdu, Sichuan, to acquire substantial quantities of raw materials for the production of “allogeneic bones.” The bodies underwent screening and processing at Sichuan Hengpu Company and the Human Anatomy Teaching and Research Laboratory at Guilin Medical College. The pre-processed bones were then loaded onto trucks and transported back to the company for storage.
Moreover, to conceal the illegal origins of the cadaveric raw materials that Shanxi Orui Company employed in producing and processing “allogeneic bones,” Li arranged for several employees in the company to forge voluntary body donation registration forms, inspection reports, and other documents to falsely assert the legality and safety of their body sources, requiring most of the employees to fabricate signatures of fake family members on the body donation registration forms.
It was reported that the Shanxi Taiyuan City Public Security Bureau took over the case on May 23 this year. The case has been forwarded to the Taiyuan City Procuratorate for review and prosecution. On August 8, a relevant official from the Taiyuan City Procuratorate informed Chinese media that the case remains unresolved due to its extensive implications.
Companies linked to China National Nuclear Corporation, the CCP’s leading state-owned enterprise, are implicated in the case
Notably, Shanxi Orui Company involved in the case is a subsidiary of the China Institute of Radiation Protection. According to the official website, the China Institute of Radiation Protection, affiliated with the central enterprise CNNC, was founded in 1962. The China National Nuclear Corporation ranks first among the central enterprises as listed by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council.
The official introduction states that the China Radiation Institute is China’s sole comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and public welfare scientific research institution dedicated to radiation protection research and application. It primarily specializes in radiation protection, radiation medicine, and environmental medicine, along with nuclear emergencies and safety, and nuclear environmental science. It provides scientific research, equipment development, and technical services in the fields of nuclear facility decommissioning and radioactive waste treatment and disposal. It serves as an overall planning and construction unit for the Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, is recognized as a national technology transfer demonstration agency by the Ministry of Science and Technology, and is a national demonstration base for talent and intelligence attraction and a technology transfer agency of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. Additionally, it also acts as a safety management support unit for China National Nuclear Corporation and is an affiliated institution of the national first-level society “China Radiation Protection Society.”
Epoch Times reporters discovered at 8:30 PM on August 8, Beijing time, that media outlets like The Paper and Observer had removed related reports, and associated topics on Weibo had been blocked. However, some reports from other media, such as Jiemian News, remain accessible.
(Network screenshot)
Editor in charge: Sun Yun#
Shocking Case Unveiled: Theft and Dismemberment of Over 4,000 Corpses in China
According to a report by the Epoch Times on August 8, 2024, a disturbing case involving the theft, dismemberment, and illegal resale of human corpses has come to light. This case has alerted both legal experts and the general public to the depths of unethical practices in the biomaterials industry in China. A mainland lawyer has revealed case materials online implicating a major company in the theft of thousands of corpses for the production of allogeneic bone implant materials, generating revenues up to 380 million yuan.
Disturbing Details from a Chinese Lawyer
Lawyer Yi Shenghua took to Weibo to express his shock over the details he uncovered. He recounted, “In my years as a criminal lawyer, I have handled countless cases, but this one left me horrified. Who does not have lost relatives? The thought that a loved one could be subjected to such brutal dismemberment is chilling.” He raised concerns over the light sentences these criminals might receive, highlighting the flawed legal framework around such extreme acts.
Summary of the Case
Timeline and Operations of Shanxi Ori Biomaterials Co., Ltd.
The allegations state that from January 2015 to July 2023, Shanxi Ori Biomaterials Co., Ltd. was engaged in illegal activities involving the purchase and processing of human remains. Documents obtained from the case demonstrate that the company, a subsidiary of the China National Nuclear Corporation, acquired corpses illegally across several provinces, including Sichuan, Guangxi, and Shandong.
Scale of Operation
Authorities seized over 18 tons of human skeletal remains and more than 34,000 finished products from the company during their investigation. It was revealed that a conspirator controlled various crematoriums and orchestrated the dismemberment of over 4,000 corpses to supply his company.
Involvement of Multiple Entities and Individuals
Reports suggest that a total of 75 suspects were involved in the operation. Notably, several organizations across China, including hospitals and funeral homes, were implicated in this deeply disturbing case. The intricate web included crematoriums in regions such as Yunnan, Chongqing, and Guizhou.
Public Reaction and Legal Implications
The public has expressed outrage over the case, with many taking to social media to voice their concerns. Comments included statements such as, “The desire for profit fills the heart,” and calls for severe punishments against such inhumane practices.
Technical Aspects of Allogeneic Bone Implants
Allogeneic bone implants are typically used in medical procedures where bone grafts are needed, such as in orthopedic surgeries. According to the Food and Drug Administration of China, these materials undergo extensive processing, including sterilization and demineralization, before being utilized. However, the integrity of the sources in this case raises significant ethical questions.
Table: Comparison of Legitimate vs. Illegitimate Practices in Biomaterials
| Aspect | Legitimate Practices | Illegitimate Practices |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Donated cadaveric materials with consent | Illegally obtained corpses without consent |
| Processing | Follows health regulations and standards | Processing in unsanitary conditions without oversight |
| Legal Consequences | Complies with laws ensuring ethical standards | Severe legal repercussions for violators |
Historical Context and Regulatory Framework
Shanxi Ori was established in 1999 as a subsidiary of the China Institute of Radiation Protection, focusing on bone implant materials—a critical sector in medical operations. However, the financial incentives combined with inadequate regulatory oversight have led to this grim situation.
Government Response
The case has escalated to authorities as the Taiyuan City Public Security Bureau took over on May 23, 2024, and the complexities surrounding it mean investigations are still ongoing. Recent efforts to squash media coverage of the incident have surfaced, indicating a troubling environment for transparency in such high-stakes legal matters.
Conclusion: Ethical Implications Beyond the Case
The shocking nature of this case raises pivotal questions about the ethics surrounding the use of human remains for medical purposes. Should stringent measures not only be enacted following this incident but also for the wider industry to prevent future abuses?
Lawyer Yi Shenghua concluded his statements with a clarion call urging for greater accountability in the legal interpretations of such crimes to safeguard the integrity of human remains and respect for the deceased.
