We don’t quite understand the law; could someone please explain it?
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The general thinking of ordinary people is that those who break the law should be sentenced, right? For example, a thief who steals 2,000 yuan for the first time and gets caught will have to not only return the money but also face a prison sentence. Right? So the question is: in Zheng Shuang’s case, given the severity of the issues involved and the fact that it violated the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China, why was she simply asked to return the money instead of being sentenced? Article 201 of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China stipulates that if a taxpayer evades payment of taxes, and after the tax authorities issue a notice requiring repayment in accordance with the law, the taxpayer shall pay the outstanding taxes and the late fees; if the taxpayer has already been subject to administrative penalties, no criminal liability shall be pursued. Compared to, say, a thief stealing for the first time, Zheng Shuang’s case involves a huge amount of money and has a significant impact on society; why is it sufficient to simply impose a fine or require her to return the money, rather than giving her a prison sentence? Isn’t the sentencing in criminal law a bit unreasonable?
It’s estimated that there was someone on top, someone below, and another person in the middle. Besides, anything that can be solved with money isn’t considered a real problem.
It’s mainly to force them to pay back the money; if convicted, those who evade taxes might end up in serious trouble. It’s a bit like plea bargaining in the West.