Arrest warrant issued for rape suspect

A district procuratorate in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, said on Wednesday that they have issued a warrant to arrest a man surnamed Liu on charges of rape and child sexual molestation. The prosecutors said they will direct local police as they collect evidence.

In a statement on Tuesday, police in Harbin said they had detained Liu a day earlier and the investigation is ongoing.

According to Xi'an Business newspaper, the 5-year-old girl on Saturday departed home on her own for her grandparents and didn't return. She was brought back early next morning by Liu, and the injuries on her body raised suspicions of abuse.

Citing Liu's foster mother, the report said he is a scavenger and has drinking problems, which has often led to violent behavior. A medical record obtained by the paper said the girl's hymen had been recently lacerated, and there were injuries on her back, hips, legs, face and hands.

The unidentified girl has been receiving treatment in an intensive care unit at a hospital in Harbin.

On Tuesday, the city's women's federation told news website The-Paper.cn that it has helped arrange treatment and psychological counseling for the girl and offered financial aid and assistance in filing lawsuits. It said it will keep following the case.

The provincial women's federation said it has engaged prosecutors who had quickly intervened. It also formed a special task force aimed at helping the victim safeguard her rights.

A newspaper owned by the All-China Women's Federation lashed out on Thursday at sexual misconduct toward young girls.

In a commentary published on social media, the China Women's News said such offenses are intolerable by both legal and moral standards and deserve strong condemnation.

The paper called for a "zero tolerance" stance and severe punishments to deter future offenses aimed at girls and help them avoid lifelong trauma.

In addition, the commentary urged parents and guardians to increase oversight of their children so as to leave no "exploitable opportunities" for sexual offenders. It also called for across-the-board efforts to close legal loopholes, raise public awareness of the issue and create a social environment that benefits children's growth.

"The sword of law shall be wielded to chop off the clutches of the devils coveting young kids," the paper said.