Key Takeaways
- Zhanming Shang pleaded guilty to 52 charges, including sexual violation and indecent acts on young people.
- The victims were aged between 11 and 15 at the time of the abuse, and Shang had gained their families’ trust by presenting himself as a respected member of the Chinese community.
- Shang was sentenced to 13 years and three months in prison, with a minimum non-parole period of half the total sentence.
- The judge described Shang’s offending as "depraved and extremely serious" and noted that he had systematically groomed the victims and abused their trust.
Introduction to the Case
The case of Zhanming Shang, a man who pleaded guilty to 52 charges related to the sexual abuse of two young boys, has highlighted the importance of holding offenders accountable for their actions. Shang, who moved to New Zealand in 2020, pleaded guilty to 48 charges of sexual violation, as well as two counts of committing indecent acts on a young person, making objectionable material, and possessing it. The agreed summary of facts revealed that Shang had systematically groomed both of his victims, who were aged between 11 and 15 at the time, and had gained their families’ trust by presenting himself as a respected member of the Chinese community.
The Abuse and Its Impact
The summary of facts sets out graphic details of the abuse Shang inflicted on the children across multiple years. Shang was trusted to be alone with his victims and have them stay in his home, and he intentionally recorded and saved many of the sexual encounters on an external storage device. The abuse had a profound impact on the victims and their families, with Detective Inspector Ryan Cain noting that the investigation into Shang was sparked by one of his victims coming forward. Cain praised the victim’s courage in alerting police, saying that his strength and determination had been remarkable, and that the sentence brought some sense of peace and reassurance that speaking up was worthwhile in holding the offender to account.
The Sentencing Hearing
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Gibson set a starting point of 19 years of imprisonment, noting that Shang’s offending was depraved and extremely serious. Prosecutor Helen Brown argued that the defence’s request for a 75% discount was too much, and that Shang should not receive a sentence discount just because he wasn’t a native English speaker. Brown also argued that Shang’s alleged experience of sexual abuse as a child was not corroborated by the pre-sentence report, and that he had not made his family and friends aware of the full scope of his offending. Shang’s lawyer, David Jones, KC, submitted that his client’s family may not have been aware of the abuse he claimed to have experienced because it was private, and that the victims’ families had agreed to accept a payment from Shang of $20,000.
The Sentence and Its Implications
Judge Gibson ultimately sentenced Shang to 13 years and three months in prison, with a minimum non-parole period of half the total sentence. The judge noted that Shang’s offending was extremely serious, and that he had systematically groomed the victims and abused their trust. The sentence reflects the gravity of Shang’s crimes and the need to protect the public from further harm. The case also highlights the importance of supporting victims of sexual abuse and ensuring that offenders are held accountable for their actions. The sentence will likely have a significant impact on Shang’s life, and will serve as a deterrent to others who may be considering similar crimes.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the case of Zhanming Shang serves as a reminder of the importance of holding offenders accountable for their actions, and of supporting victims of sexual abuse. The sentence reflects the gravity of Shang’s crimes and the need to protect the public from further harm. The case also highlights the importance of ensuring that offenders are rehabilitated and that they do not pose a risk to the community upon their release. As the judge noted, Shang’s offending was depraved and extremely serious, and the sentence will likely have a significant impact on his life. The case will also serve as a reminder to others of the consequences of committing similar crimes, and will hopefully deter others from engaging in such behavior.
