On Wednesday, a court in Putuo district of Shanghai municipality, sentenced Wang Zhenhua, who had molested a 9-year-old girl, to five years in prison. Zhou Yanfen, a woman who reportedly assisted Wang by taking the minor to the hotel where the crime was committed, was sentenced to four years in prison.

When the arrest of Wang was first reported in July 2019, there were worries that Wang, who was rich and wielded huge influence as board chairman of the real estate development company Seazen Holdings Co. Ltd, would escape penalty. However, the law makes no exception in deciding punishment.

According to the judge who presided over the case, the provisions of the Criminal Law and relevant judicial interpretations stipulate whether there is contact with the perpetrator's sexual organ is the key to distinguishing whether the offender is guilty of rape or of molesting a child in such cases.

In this case, the victim's statement, the defendant's confession and judicial appraisal, all indicated that Wang molested the victim. Therefore, Wang was convicted of molesting the girl, not raping her.

What is notable in this case is that Zhou was also sentenced to prison, which shows that those who are found guilty of aiding and abetting such crimes will also be held accountable.

The case should be a reminder to parents that they must ensure their children's safety even with those they know. Zhou, who facilitated the crime by procuring the girl for Wang, is said to have been a "friend" of the girl's parents.

That piece of information needs confirmation, but it is really not uncommon for those committing evil deeds against children to be "friends of the family".

Therefore, there can never be too much caution when it comes to protecting children from sexual predators.

- ZHANG ZHOUXIANG, CHINA DAILY