'Man took over lives of murdered family'
27 February 2008, 06:54
The man accused of killing an entire family and taking over their lives left a trail of evidence of his misdeeds, burying the entire family in graves within metres from where he enjoyed the family jacuzzi and sauna.
The Chen family had just returned home from a trip to China and before they could even unpack their clothes they were killed on May 6 2006.
The State alleges that Bao Zinlong killed 59-year-old businessman Chi Hsin Chen before collecting the rest of his family at OR Tambo International and killing them too.
He then continued to run the family television repair shop and live in their house, assuming the identity of Chi Hsin.
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The three adults - Chi Hsin, his wife Gui Jen and 18-year-old Huan Qui - were shot before being buried in the family's backyard.The Chen family had just returned home from a trip to China and before they could even unpack their clothes they were killed on May 6 2006.
The State alleges that Bao Zinlong killed 59-year-old businessman Chi Hsin Chen before collecting the rest of his family at OR Tambo International and killing them too.
He then continued to run the family television repair shop and live in their house, assuming the identity of Chi Hsin.
Bao has admitted to strangling but not shooting Chi Hsin.
On Tuesday Senior Superintendent Marthinus Botha told the court how Bao, a former officer in the Chinese army, had identified himself as "Mr Chen" when approached in Chen's shop in Bez Valley.
Botha started making inquiries about the Chen family after the Taipei Liason Office reported the family missing in April 2006.
A day after his initial visit Botha returned to the shop, introduced himself to the assumed "Mr Chen", who then revealed he was actually Bao Zinlong. He told Botha the Chens' had returned to China and had sold the business and a Mercedez Benz sedan to him for R150 000 and R80 000 respectively.
But when Botha searched the Mercedez Benz he discovered a title deed for a house in Krugersdorp in Chen's name and two passports.
Botha also managed to track a cellphone, provided to him by the Taipei Liason Office as contact details for the Chen's, to Bao's girlfriend in Bruma.
Following the trail of evidence, Botha searched the Krugersdorp home.
"At the back was a relaxation area with a sauna and jacuzzi. Behind this recreation area I found a hole that looked to me like a grave," Botha said.
After calling in the police's forensic unit, three bound and badly decomposed bodies were found in the 1,2m deep grave. The three are believed to be Mrs Chen, her sons Huan Qui (18) and 5-year-old Hong Wen.
After another search of the property Botha came across another place which appeared to be a grave, where they found Chi Hsin's remains.
In a room in the house where Bao was staying police found identity documents belonging to the deceased, a 9mm pistol with two magazines and credit cards belonging to the couple.
In a room adjoining the lounge police discovered two bags with luggage handling tags still attached.
On Monday the State accepted a guilty plea from Bao for the murder of Chi Hsin and for trying to hide the bodies from police.
Bao also admitted to defeating the ends of justice when he buried the bodies of the family.
- This article was originally published on page 2 of The Star on February 27, 2008
Pretoria
