5 suspects arrested for fabricating online rumors to create troubles

Five men have been arrested in central China's Hunan Province on charges of fabricating online rumors, blackmailing others and provoking troubles. The victims include cadres and staff from enterprises and public institutions in more than 10 provinces and cities, involving millions of yuan, according to the Hengyang city procuratorate. The procuratorate says that Ge Qiwei, head of the gang, whose original name was Zhou Bo, falsely claimed himself as a news reporter and blackmailed cadres with negative news. He also fabricated and spread rumors to create troubles, which has severely smeared the image of local governments and disturbed social order, according to the procuratorate. Ge confessed to the crime and wrote in an online letter of remorse that "the irresponsible spreading of information has brought extreme negative effects to the society."