本案杨中的行为该如何定性
滑力加 杨月厚
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[案情简介]
被告人杨中和苗生都是宁夏固原市三营镇农民。2003年,二人在内蒙呼和浩特市打工期间,认识了在呼市做小生意的马军。今年4月6日10时,杨中骑摩托车接马军。马军对摩托车十分好奇,遂向杨中借上这辆摩托车开着玩。不料撞上一录像厅老板,将其裤子挂破。录像厅老板向马军索要260元赔偿金。由于二人身上没有带这么多钱,录像厅老板就将摩托车扣下。杨中遂给苗生打电话求助。苗生赶来,借给马军100元钱,了结了此事。
事后,苗生提出以该摩托车为抵押,从马军父母在呼经营的粮油门市部赊购7袋面粉,再借500元现金。马母同意后,马军和杨中按苗生的要求拿上500元现金,又雇车将七袋面粉运到呼市新城区红旗街交给王平(同案在逃)。
苗生和王平在此过程中感到马军家中可能有钱,就预谋绑架马军,然后向马家索取钱财。苗生打电话给马军和杨中,让二人到呼市火车站一旅店来见他。当日14时许,当马军和杨中来到该旅店时,看到店门口有两个陌生人。二人一进屋,两个陌生人就守住门口。接着苗生将房门关上后,先一脚将马军踹倒,随后就问马军:家里有钱没有。马军说没有。苗生就从杨中腰中抽出杨随身携带的一把匕首,用刀尖逼在马军的大腿上,问马军到底有钱没?马军说有也只是一两千元。此时王平进来,又从苗生手里拿过匕首,再次逼问马军家中有没有三万元?马军仍说有也是几千元。王、苗二人不信,继续殴打马军。后又让马军给家里打电话,要2万元人民币。期间,杨中看到这种场面,就劝阻苗生不要这样干,结果遭到苗生殴打。
马军在苗、王二人的逼迫下,被迫给家里打电话,说有个人要“借”两万元钱买汽车,自己现在不能回家。马母在电话中说家里没有那么多钱。苗生只好改为先拿2000元,马母表示同意。
于是苗生就让杨中到马军家去取钱。苗生和王平与另二人则将马军转移到呼市公安厅东面一家招待所等候。
马军家接到电话后,立即意识到儿子出事了,当即向公安机关报了案。所以当杨中一到马军家,就被公安机关当场抓获。经公安人员做工作,杨中表示愿意配合公安机关工作。后在杨中的配合下,公安人员将前来取钱的苗生抓获。马军也乘机逃出。
[分歧]
在对此案审查起诉过程中,检察机关对苗生涉嫌构成绑架罪没有异议,但对于杨中的行为性质是否涉嫌犯罪产生异议。
一种意见认为:杨中在这起绑架案中,事先没有预谋,事发时又竭力劝阻,还因此遭到苗生的殴打,这说明其没有共同犯罪的故意。虽然杨中有去马军家取钱的行为,但这是被胁迫的。况且杨中被抓获后能积极配合公安机关的工作,从而使公安机关很快抓获了苗生,解救了人质。故认为杨中的行为不构成犯罪,建议对杨中作出无罪不起诉的决定。
另一种意见认为:杨中虽然在这起绑架案中事先没有参与预谋,事发时又曾加以劝阻,但其最终还是服从苗生的命令,去马军家取款。这一行为,实际上是参与到绑架行为之中了。但其地位应当属于共同犯罪中的胁从犯,可起诉到法院,建议法院根据《刑法》中关于胁从犯的规定进行处罚。
[评析]
笔者同意第二种意见。
根据司法实践,在共同犯罪案件中,行为人有事先预谋的,也有事先没有预谋的而临时参加的。
我国《刑法》根据行为人在共同犯罪中的作用及分工,将共同犯罪人分为主犯、从犯、胁从犯和教唆犯四种。本案中,杨中的行为应当属于胁从犯。
所谓胁从犯,是指被胁迫参加共同犯罪的人。
就拿本案来看,杨中一开始并不知道苗生等人要绑架马军。当苗生等人开始实施绑架行为时,杨中首先持反对态度,进行劝阻。杨中为此还遭到苗生的殴打。这种殴打行为就是共同犯罪当中的胁迫行为。
在绑架案件中,绑架人质只是一种手段,索要钱财才是真正目的。苗生等人绑架了马军,并由杨中去拿钱,这是一种行为的两个阶段,由此形成一个完整的犯罪过程。而杨中就是由一个开始不同意,后来在他人胁迫之下参加到绑架行为之中的共同犯罪嫌疑人,是后一阶段参加进去的行为人。
胁从犯不同于身体完全受到强制或者精神处于不知状态的人。如本案中的杨中,一开始他受到胁迫,在现场他既无法反抗,也无法离开。虽然受到胁迫,但他也没有对马军实施任何行为。这时的杨中虽在现场,但并没有实施任何犯罪行为。但当苗生指令他去马家取钱时,此时的杨中因为已经恢复了行动的自由,在这时有三种方式可供杨中选择:一是离开犯罪现场后,一躲了之;二是向公安机关报案,协助公安机关抓获绑架人,解救出人质;三是听从苗生之言,去马家取款。这是关系到杨中罪与非罪的重大选择。如果杨中选择了前两种方式,那他就不可能被抓捕。遗憾的是杨中是一个智力健全,能够辨别是非的正常人,他明知自己的行为是犯罪行为,但他还是选择了第三种方式,从而使其不但有了共同犯罪的故意,而且实际上加入到这场犯罪行为之中。
我国《刑法》第二十八条规定:“对于被胁迫参加犯罪的,应当按照他的犯罪情节减轻处罚或者免除处罚。”在这里要注意分清免除处罚和无罪的区别。免除处罚是指行为人的行为已构成犯罪,但因其情节或法律规定不予处罚;不构成犯罪则是指行为人的行为根本就不是犯罪。
由此不难看出,杨中的行为已符合绑架罪的犯罪构成要件。对其行为的性质不是是否构不构成犯罪的问题,而是如何处罚的问题。
内蒙古呼和浩特市新城区人民检察院·杨月厚 滑力加
MARITIME TRAFFIC SAFETY LAW OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ——附加英文版
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
MARITIME TRAFFIC SAFETY LAW OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
(Adopted at the Second Meeting of the Standing Committee of the
Sixth National People's Congress, promulgated by Order No. 7 of the
President of the People's Republic of China on September 2, 1983, and
effective as of January, 1, 1984)
Contents
Chapter I General Provisions
Chapter II Inspection and Registration of Vessels
Chapter III Personnel on Vessels and Installations
Chapter IV Navigation, Berthing and Operations
Chapter V Safety Protection
Chapter VI Transport of Dangerous Goods
Chapter VII Rescue from Disasters at Sea
Chapter VIII Salvage and Removal of Sunken and Drifting Objects
Chapter IX Investigation and Handling of Traffic Accidents
Chapter X Legal Liability
Chapter XI Special Provisions
Chapter XII Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1
This law is formulated in order to strengthen the control of maritime
traffic; ensure the safety of vessels, installations, human life and
property; and safeguard the rights and interests of the state.
Article 2
This Law shall apply to all vessels, installations and personnel and to
the owners and managers of such vessels and installations that navigate,
berth or operate in the coastal waters of the People's Republic of China.
Article 3
The harbour superintendence agencies of the People's Republic of China
shall be the competent authorities responsible for the unified supervision
and administration of traffic safety in the coastal waters.
Chapter II Inspection and Registration of Vessels
Article 4
Vessels and their major equipment relating to navigation safety must have
valid technical certificates issued by vessel inspection departments.
Article 5
A vessel must have a certificates showing its nationality, a vessel
registry certificate or a vessel licence.
Chapter III Personnel on Vessels and Installations
Article 6
Vessels shall be manned with qualified crew members according to a
standard quota to ensure the vessels' safety.
Article 7
The captain, chief engineer, pilot, engineers, radio and telephone
operators and similar personnel on board seaplanes or submersibles must
hold valid job certificates. All other crew members must undergo
specialized technical training required for their work.
Article 8
In accordance with state provisions, all installations shall be provided
with personnel who have mastered the techniques of collision avoidance,
signalling, communications, fire control, life-saving and other
operations.
Article 9
All personnel on vessels and installations must observe relevant rules and
regulations concerning maritime traffic safety, follow the operating rules
and ensure the safety of the vessels and installations in navigation,
berthing and operations.
Chapter IV Navigation, Berthing and Operations
Article 10
While navigating, berthing or carrying out operations, vessels and
installations must abide by the relevant laws, administrative statutes and
rules and regulations of the People's Republic of China.
Article 11
Non-military vessels of foreign nationality may not enter the internal
waters and harbours of the People's Republic of China without the approval
of its competent authorities. However, under unexpected circumstances such
as critical illness of personnel, engine breakdown or the vessels being in
distress or seeking shelter from weather when they do not have the time to
obtain approval, they may, while entering China's internal waters of
harbour, make an emergency report to the competent authorities and shall
obey its directions.
Military vessels of foreign nationality may not enter the territorial
waters of the People's Republic of China without the approval of the
Government of the People's Republic of China.
Article 12
Vessels sailing on international routes that enter and leave the harbours
of the People's Republic of China must accept inspection by the competent
authorities. Vessels of Chinese nationality sailing on domestic routes
that enter and leave such harbours must obtain port entry and departure
visas.
Article 13
Vessels of foreign nationality entering and leaving a harbour of the
People's Republic of China, navigating or shifting berths in the harbour
area, or approaching or leaving mooring points or loading spots outside
the harbour must be navigated by a pilot designated by the competent
authorities.
Article 14
When entering or leaving harbours or passing through controlled traffic
areas, crowded navigable areas or areas where navigational conditions are
restricted, vessels must observe the special regulations promulgated by
the Government of the People's Republic of China or by the competent
authorities.
Article 15
Vessels shall be prohibited from entering or passing through restricted
navigation zones unless specially permitted by the competent authorities.
Article 16
Towing operations on the open sea involving large-sized installations and
mobile platforms must undergo towing inspection conducted by vessel
inspection departments and be reported to the competent authorities for
examination and approval.
Article 17
If the competent authorities finds the actual condition of a vessel to be
not in conformity with what is stated in the vessel's certificates, it
shall have the right to require the vessel to apply for a new inspection
or notify its owner or manager to adopt effective safety measures.
Article 18
If the competent authorities believes that a vessel presents a menace to
the safety of a harbour, it shall have the right to forbid the vessel from
entering the harbour or to order it to leave the harbour.
Article 19
The competent authorities shall have the right to forbid a vessel or an
installation from leaving the harbour or order it to suspend its voyage,
change its route or cease its operations under any one of the following
circumstances:
(1) if it violates any law, administrative statute or other rule or
regulation of the People's Republic of China;
(2) if it is in a condition unsuitable for navigation or towing;
(3) if it was involved in a traffic accident and has not completed the
necessary formalities;
(4) if it has not paid the fees that are due or furnished appropriate
security to the competent authorities or the department concerned: or
(5) if the competent authorities considers that there are other
circumstances that will jeopardize or might jeopardize maritime traffic
safety.
Chapter V Safety Protection
Article 20
Construction operations to be carried out on the surface or underwater in
coastal waters and the demarcation of corresponding safe operation zones
must be reported to the competent authorities for examination and approval
and must be publicly announced. Vessels not involved in the construction
project may not enter the safe operation zones. The construction unit may
not enlarge such zones without authorization. When shore lines are to be
used in harbour areas or when construction work, including overhead
operations, is to be carried out on the sea surface or underwater in such
areas, the plan and a drawing thereof must be submitted to the competent
authorities for examination and approval.
Article 21
The designation of restricted navigation zones in coastal waters must be
approved by the State Council or the competent authorities. However, the
designation of restricted navigation zones for military purposes shall be
approved by the competent department of the state in charge of military
affairs.
The restricted navigation zones shall be announced by the competent
authorities.
Article 22
Without the approval of the competent authorities, no installations may be
established or constructed, nor may any activities that hinder
navigational safety be carried out in harbour areas, anchorages,
navigation lanes, or crowded navigable areas, as well as in navigation
routes announced by the competent authorities.
With respect to any installations which have been established or
constructed in the above-mentioned areas without authorization, the
competent authorities shall have the right to order their owners to remove
or dismantle the installations within a given period of time.
Article 23
It shall be forbidden to damage navigation aids or navigational
facilities. Whoever has damaged navigation aids or navigational facilities
shall immediately report the damage to the competent authorities and be
liable for compensation.
Article 24
Vessels and installations shall promptly make a report to the competent
authorities if they discover any of the following situations:
(1) If navigation aids or navigational facilities malfunction or become
abnormal;
(2) if an obstacle or drifting object jeopardizing the safety of
navigation is discovered; or
(3) if there are other abnormal situations jeopardizing the safety of
navigation.
Article 25
No obstacle affecting the efficacy of navigation aids may be erected or
installed in areas surrounding the aids. Any lights in the vicinity of the
navigation aids or navigational lanes that jeopardize navigation safety
shall be properly screened.
Article 26
When removing or dismantling installations, salvaging or removing sunken
ships or objects, and handling the finishing operations of underwater
projects, no hidden dangers shall be left to menace navigational or
operational safety. Before the aforesaid operations have been properly
completed, their owners or managers must be responsible for erecting
markers as required and making an accurate report to the competent
authority on the type, shape, size and location of the obstacle and the
depth of water over it.
Article 27
Safety administration must be strengthened with respect to harbour
wharves, mooring points and loading spots outside of harbour areas as well
as ship locks, so that they are always kept in good condition.
Article 28
To meet the requirements of maritime traffic safety, the competent
authority shall fix and adjust traffic control areas and harbour
anchorages. The designation of anchorages outside of harbour areas shall
be announced by the competent authority after the report relative thereto
has been submitted to and approved by higher authorities.
Article 29
The competent authorities shall, in accordance with relevant provisions of
the state, be responsible for issuing navigational warnings and
navigational notices.
Article 30
In order to ensure the safety of navigation, berthing and operations, the
departments concerned shall maintain unimpeded communications facilities,
ensure distinct and effective navigation aids and navigational facilities
and, in a timely manner, provide offshore meteorological forecasts and
necessary books and reference materials concerning maritime navigation.
Article 31
When vessels and installations are involved in accidents that jeopardize
or may jeopardize traffic safety, the competent authorities shall have the
right to take necessary, compulsory measures to deal with the matter.
Chapter VI Transport of Dangerous Goods
Article 32
When vessels or installations store, load, unload or transport dangerous
goods, they must maintain safe and reliable equipment and conditions and
observe the state provisions governing the control and transport of
dangerous goods.
Article 33
When vessels load and transport dangerous goods, they must go through the
procedures for declaration to the competent authorities and they may not
enter or leave the harbour or load or unload until approval has been
obtained.
Chapter VII Rescue from Disasters at Sea
Article 34
When vessels, installations or aircraft are in distress, they shall, in
addition to issuing distress signals calling for help, use the quickest
method possible to report to the competent authorities the time and place
of the accident, the extent of damage, the assistance required and the
cause of the accident.
Article 35
Vessels, installations or aircraft in distress and their owners or mangers
shall take all effective measures to organize their own rescue efforts.
Article 36
When vessels or installations in the vicinity of the scene of an accident
receive a distress signal or discover that people's lives are endangered,
they shall do their best to rescue the people in distress insofar as their
own safety is not seriously endangered, and promptly report to the
competent authorities the situation at the scene, their own names, call
numbers and positions.
Article 37
Vessels or installations involved in a collision shall exchange their
names, nationalities and ports of registry and do their best to rescue
personnel in distress. The vessels involved may not leave the scene of
the accident without authorization, insofar as their own safety is not
seriously endangered.
Article 38
Upon receiving a request for rescue, the competent authorities shall
immediately organize a rescue operation. All units concerned and vessels
or installations in the vicinity of the scene must act under the orders of
the competent authorities.
Article 39
When a foreign country intends to dispatch vessels or aircraft into the
territorial waters or the airspace over the territorial waters of the
People's Republic of China to search for and rescue vessels or people in
distress, it must obtain the approval of the competent [Chinese]
authorities.
Chapter VIII Salvage and Removal of Sunken and Drifting Objects
Article 40
With respect to sunken or drifting objects that may affect the safety of
navigation and the management of navigation lanes, as well as those
constituting a threat of explosion, the owners or managers thereof shall
salvage and remove such objects within a deadline set by the competent
authorities. Otherwise, the competent authorities shall have the right to
take measures to compel the salvage and removal of the objects, and their
owners or managers shall bear all the expenses incurred thereby.
The provisions of this Article shall not prejudice the rights of the
owners or managers of the sunken or drifting objects to demand
compensation from third parties.
Article 41
No sunken vessels or sunken objects in the coastal waters may be salvaged
or dismantled without the approval of the competent authorities.
Chapter IX Investigation and Handling of Traffic Accidents
Article 42
Any vessel or installation involved in a traffic accident shall submit a
written accident report and relative materials to the competent
authorities and accept its investigation and handling of the accident.
While being investigated by the competent authorities the parties involved
in the accident and relevant personnel must give a truthful account of
circumstances at the scene of the accident and other relevant information.
Article 43
In the event of a traffic accident that involves a vessel or installation,
the competent authorities shall ascertain the cause of the accident and
fix the responsibility for it.
Chapter X Legal Liability
Article 44
The competent authorities shall, in the light of the circumstances, impose
one or more of the following penalties on anyone who violates this Law:
(1) warnings;
(2) withholding or revoking work certificates; or
(3) fines.
Article 45
If a party does not accept the penalty of a fine or revocation of his work
certificate imposed by the competent authorities, he may bring suit in a
people's court within 15 days after receiving notification of the penalty.
If he neither brings suit nor complies with the penalty upon the
expiration of that period, the competent authorities shall request
compulsory enforcement from the people's court.
Article 46
A civil dispute arising from a maritime traffic accident may be settled
through mediation by the competent authorities. If the parties are
unwilling to have the case mediated or if the mediation is unsuccessful,
the parties may bring suit in the people's court. Parties to a case
involving foreign interests may also submit the case to an arbitration
agency for mediation, in accordance with the written agreement concluded
between them.
Article 47
Those whose violation of this Law constitutes a crime shall be
investigated for their criminal responsibility by judicial organs in
accordance with the Law.
Chapter XI Special Provisions
Article 48
Within the waters of fishing harbours, the state fisheries administration
and fishing harbour superintendence agencies shall exercise the functions
and powers of the competent authorities as provided in this Law, being
responsible for the supervision and administration of traffic safety and
for the investigation and handling of traffic accidents between fishing
vessels in coastal waters. Concrete measures for implementation shall be
separately prescribed by the State Council.
Article 49
The internal administration of offshore military jurisdictional areas and
military vessels and installations, the administration of surface and
underwater operations carried out for military purposes, and the
inspection and registration of public security vessels, the provision of
their personnel and the issuing of their port entry and departure visas
shall be separately prescribed by the relevant competent departments of
the state in accordance with this Law.
Chapter XII Supplementary Provisions
Article 50
For the purpose of this Law, the definitions of the following terms are:
"Coastal waters" means the harbours, inland waters, territorial waters and
all other sea areas under the jurisdiction of the state along the seacoast
of the People's Republic of China.
"Vessels" means all types of displacement or non-displacement ships,
rafts, seaplanes, submersibles and mobile platforms.
"Installations" means all types of surface and underwater structures or
installations, whether fixed or floating, and fixed platforms.
"Operations" means investigations, exploration, exploitation, survey
construction, dredging, demolition, rescue, salvage, towing, fishing,
aquatic breeding, loading and unloading, scientific experimentation and
other surface and underwater operations.
Article 51
The competent department of the State Council shall, on the basis of this
Law, formulate rules for its implementation, which shall go into effect
after being submitted to and approved by the State Council.
Article 52
In cases of conflict between laws and regulations pertaining to maritime
traffic safety hitherto promulgated and this Law, this Law shall prevail.
Article 53
This Law shall go into effect on January 1, 1984.
Important Notice:
This English document is coming from "LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA GOVERNING FOREIGN-RELATED MATTERS" (1991.7)
which is compiled by the Brueau of Legislative Affairs of the State
Council of the People's Republic of China, and is published by the China
Legal System Publishing House.
In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall prevail.