Unreported deaths lead to 28 arrests

16 government workers suspected of corruption under probe in Shanxi

Authorities in Shanxi province have arrested 28 people accused of not reporting the deaths of 43 miners in a series of mining accidents between 2003 and last year.

Additionally, 16 government workers are under investigation on suspicion of corruption, negligence, and protecting criminal gangs, according to a statement released by a provincial investigation team on Sunday.

The investigations and arrests were initiated less than a month after China Newsweek magazine published a report revealing that Jingcheng Mining in Daixian county had failed to report accidents that claimed the lives of more than 30 miners between 2007 and 2022.

During the investigation, a team of authorities including the provincial public security and emergency departments discovered that Jingcheng Mining had concealed information about fatal accidents and manipulated the families of the deceased miners in negotiations with them.

Company officials used coercion and intimidation to secure compensation agreements and signed "secrecy agreements" to avoid accountability and punishment.

The investigation team uncovered numerous illegal practices carried out by Jingcheng Mining, including illegal subcontracting and management irregularities.

The company failed to adequately oversee production operations, leading to a high rate of personnel turnover. Safety education and training were lacking, and mining activities did not adhere to safety requirements and design plans, the statement said.

"The company only collects safety deposits from contractors, but it does not effectively oversee the production operations," it said.

For example, in 2022, when underground mines for minerals other than coal were suspended for inspection across the province, Jingcheng Mining's actual controller, identified as Wang, on suspicion of illegally organizing mining operations without proper safety inspections or legitimate procedures under the guise of cleaning deserted mining areas. This project was further subcontracted to multiple construction teams, none of which possessed the necessary qualifications.

The investigation team also discovered that Jin Fujun, a contractor for Jingcheng Mining, had engaged in various illegal activities, such as profiting from mining contracts, engaging in forced transactions, and operating illegal gambling establishments.

As the leader of a criminal organization, Jin was involved in intentionally harming other organizations, extortion, forcing transactions, destruction of property, illegal storing of unreported explosives and false reporting of safety accidents.

In 2014, a landslide resulted in the death of four miners from Jin's team. During the rescue operation, Jin and his associates concealed the truth and falsely reported only one fatality, reaching compensation agreements privately with the victims' families.

Jin and his associates were arrested in June 2019, and he was sentenced to 22 years in prison in December 2021 by a local court.