RESPECTED MONK IS ACTUALLY A KILLER

CAMPAIGN.....Xu donating blood at a campaign in 2011

A MURDERER in China tried to escape being caught for his crime by becoming a monk, and even made a great living through his disguise!

Xu Xinlian was on the run for 17 years, moving from place to place as a Buddhist student at renowned temples like the Shaolin Temple, until in 1998 when he arrived at the Jingci Temple (or Temple Of Pure Mercy), which was built in the year 954 during the Wuyue Dynasty.

Xinlian then became a monk so he could continue hiding in the temple, changed his name to Weidi, and even earned the respect of the temple disciples. He was active in several charities, made loads of international trips to give talks, and was visited by various society VIPs.

He eventually became the manager of the monastery, drove a luxury car, and even ran another temple, Xiangji Temple, in Hangzhou. And all that time no one suspected he was wanted for the killing of a married couple.

Xinlian was part of a gang that caused the death of Xu Min and his wife, and seriously injuring their two-year-old son at their home in Jiujiang County, Jiangxi. Xu Min’s body was found with 56 slash wounds on the night of the attack back in July 1994.

Xinlian wasn’t the mastermind behind the crime, however. That was Wang Junmin; a former schoolmate of the deceased who still held a grudge against Xu Min over an old high school fight and wanted revenge.

Junmin and six other accomplices were actually arrested and convicted, and three of them were even executed. But Xinlian managed to elude the police and escape to Anhui, about 150km away from Jiujiang.

"Because the temple is so far from society, it was difficult for the police or others to follow my track. I spent most of my days there and I didn't need to worry about food or clothes," Xinlian said after he was finally caught.

Last week, however, the Intermediate People's Court Of Jiujiang City sentenced Xinlian to the gallows, but with a two-year reprieve because he has no other criminal record and he readily confessed to his guilt after he was charged.

"I regret the sins I've committed," Xinlian cried to the judge.

Xinlian is just one of many criminals that have been brought to justice after China’s police launched the "Clean The Web" operation in May last year. Scouring the Internet for suspects, they tracked down Xinlian and put him under a six-month surveillance before they cuffed him while he was chanting his prayers at Xiangji Temple.

Other fugitives have also tried to hide their real identities by posing in public as scholars, officials, artistes, and some have even gone on TV. Ji Siguang became an actor and made drama appearances for years before being exposed in December last year. Meanwhile, Wu Gang, wanted for murder, appeared on a speed-dating show as a music teacher.

Lin Yi, wanted for embezzlement, spent 13 years on the lam, started a jewellery business and was elected to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference before he was turned in. Shi Baoyue, also on the run for 13 years for tax fraud, became an award-winning official at a government school.

We’re pretty sure this is just China’s version of Les Miserables. (Agencies)