After purchasing mooncakes, Lin falsely claimed he had found plastic film inside and demanded compensation at ten times the original price under China’s food safety law, threatening to file complaints or expose the incident if his demands were not met.
Prosecutor Wang Jia said Lin deliberately paid full price for the products, even when discounts were offered, so he could calculate compensation based on the higher amount.
Investigators found Lin used identical scripts, photos and videos across cases. He claimed that a child had choked on the plastic film and required emergency treatment, Wang said. Lin later admitted that he had planted the plastic film himself.
Judge Yang Liu said some businesses chose to settle quickly to avoid reputational risks and higher costs. “For hotels, paying several thousand yuan can resolve the issue more easily,” Yang said.
In March, a court sentenced Lin to three years in prison, suspended for five years, and fined him 30,000 yuan for extortion.
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 