China's first HIV-carrier accused of robbery and theft was sentenced to 11 years in prison and fined 10,000 yuan (US$1204.8) in Wuhan, Capital of central China's Hubei Province, on Wednesday.

From 2001 to 2003, the 25-year-old suspect, whose assumed name is Liu Ding, was convicted of committing several robberies by himself or with his accomplice surnamed Wan by threatening to infect the victims with the HIV virus. During this period, Liu also stole property worth 22,000 yuan (US$2651).

Liu got the deadly virus by sharing a drug needle with others. After being confirmed as infected with the HIV virus in 1999, Liu used the virus as a means to get money to satisfy his drug addiction. He was arrested by the local police several times but was always released as there was no place to detain the HIV-carrier suspect.

Driven to extremes by his drug addiction, Liu finally delivered himself to the local police in October 2003. Since then, he was jailed in a separate prison 40 kilometers from Wuhan that was specially rebuilt for him.

After his conviction, where Liu will be jailed is still under discussion. Sources with the local court said that the current temporary jail where Liu was being held may be expanded as a jail exclusively for prisoners with infectious disease like Liu.

Liu said that he would appeal to a higher court.

(Xinhua News Agency June 17, 2004)