A man in northeastern China's Heilongjiang Province was sentenced to death yesterday for molesting six children and murdering five of them within a year, a local newspaper reported yesterday.

Gong Runbo, the murderer, was charged by the Jiamusi Intermediate People's Court and must compensate 661,840 yuan (US$82,730) to four out of the six victims' families who have demanded compensations, the Life Daily said.

Jiamusi police, from the northeastern city of Heilongjiang Province, received a report from the mother of a primary student on February 28, saying that her child was lured by a man from a local net café, and was taken to his residence where he was molested. The 14 year old victim escaped the man's residence in Xiangyang District.

When the police rushed to the scene that day, they were shocked to find four rotting bodies. They were later identified as Wu Shutian, 10, Ma Qianli, 10, Bai Jinlong, 15, and Jiang Fuyuan, 12. The bodies were allegedly lying on Gong's bed, beyond recognition.

Two hours later, Gong was arrested in the net café he frequented, said the police.

Police also discovered after a thorough search of Gong's rented home, two large buckets containing bones of several other suspected victims, sealed with concrete, along with other remains he hid around his home.

At least 28 pairs of children's shoes were found in Gong's residence, according to the parents who were brought in by officers to identify the victims' clothing and other belongings, said a previous report.

DNA tests on the bloodstains and teeth left in the apartment helped the police finalize the fifth victim, who the suspect Gong confessed later as being a street urchin.

The suspect, Gong Runbo, 33, grew up in the town.

Before the killing spree began, Gong was imprisoned for eight years on rape charges, locals said. Gong lived with a 15 year old girl when he was 26, and was sued by her parents.

Before the arrest, many parents believed their children had run away with friends they met online or were kidnapped, according to a previous report.

Police began to receive reports about the missing children in early 2005, but they didn't issue a public warning. "We didn't want to create a panic by releasing information before they cracked the case," said the local police.

Wu Heping, spokesman for China's Ministry of Public Security, once acknowledged in an April 11 press conference that the police's mistake before and during the investigation might have prolonged a serial murder, leaving six helpless young victims.

(Shanghai Daily July 14, 2006)