In a dispute that occurred in January 2011 between a bar security guard and a customer, the case was settled with a compensation payment of 350,000 yuan to the lightly injured party after police intervention. However, 13 years later, in November 2024, the bar owner and 15 security personnel were charged with intentional injury, later arrested for causing trouble, and ultimately prosecuted for engaging in a group brawl. The People's Court of Bangshan District, Bengbu City, Anhui Province, is currently handling the case sent by the prosecution concerning the group brawl incident. In response to family members who questioned "why is there a continued investigation 13 years later when compensation was already paid and forgiveness granted by the victim," court staff explained that the charge was for engaging in a group brawl, which has a 15-year statute of limitations, thus remaining within an effective prosecution period. However, as this charge contradicts a previous judgment on intentional injury, no trial date has been set.
The incidents leading to renewed scrutiny from authorities began on November 11, 2024, when 50-year-old Xu Jun was taken away by police from his home. His wife expressed disbelief, noting her husband's deep commitment to family and his precarious health following heart surgery just weeks prior. Subsequently, other individuals, including 47-year-olds Lu Huaiwei and Wu Raoli, were also detained due to their involvement in the brawl 13 years earlier while working as security guards at the bar.
The TT Bar opened in December 2010 in Bengbu's Economic Development Zone, co-owned by Yu Bin from outside the province and Xu Lin, a local. They hired numerous area residents, including Xu Jun and Lu Huaiwei, as security guards, with Wu Raoli serving as the security team leader. The bar mandated that security intervene in disputes with patrons, and if that failed, they were permitted to use their fists.
On the evening of January 3, 2011, a customer named Li Xiang and his friends were at the bar when one friend, Song, got onto the bar and caused a commotion. Security intervened, leading to a physical altercation. Xu Jun and several other guards soon joined the fray, resulting in Li Xiang being injured. After the event, local law enforcement initially classified it as a public security incident, leading to a settlement agreement on February 1, 2011, where the TT Bar compensated Li Xiang, who expressed he would not pursue legal action against the bar or its staff.
Despite the 2011 incident being deemed closed, the situation took a significant turn over a decade later. On November 11, 2024, police apprehended Yu Bin, Xu Lin, Xu Jun, and 11 others involved in the earlier brawl, marking a dramatic resurgence of interest in a long-closed case.
Critics of the renewed case expressed confusion, noting that the victim had not pressed charges against those involved. Li Xiang himself indicated that he had not pursued action against the guards for many years and had signed a statement confirming his willingness to forgive. The police reportedly began this renewed investigation during a self-review process in August 2023, altering the charge from intentional injury to one of gang fighting months later.
Current legal provisions suggest that the prosecution periods have lapsed for the charges of intentional injury and causing trouble. However, the charge of engaging in a group brawl does not seem applicable, as the events led to only one individual being lightly injured. Both Li Ren Ting, a lawyer for one of the suspects, and another lawyer expressed doubts that the acts met the definition of a gang fight, arguing that the incident stemmed from security measures rather than a premeditated brawl.
The past year has proven to be increasingly difficult for the families of the suspects as they cope with the absence of their spouses. The emotional and financial strain has been particularly intense, with reported deteriorations in health and education among the children left behind. The complexity of the case continues as the courts reconcile the contradictory charges stemming from events nearly 13 years ago, highlighting ongoing concerns within the judicial process.