The Beijing News reports that the man in question, Li Yuejun, received 1000 yuan for recruiting the performer in the video. The woman in the video, a Ms. Wang, worked in hospital in Luobei County in Heilongjiang. The county government said that she was divorced, and a little not right in the head.

Li did not shoot the video, however. Two employees of a Hangzhou Internet company were the producers of the film, and sent one to Heilongjiang to shoot it.

As for punishment, the county government issued a statement saying, "We have fully investigated the details of the cat torturing video, but we can only condemn the producers of the cat torturing video on moral grounds."

So that's probably the end of this sad episode, unless it spurs delegates to take action and pass an anti-cruelty law that would give an outlet for all the outrage.

Included below is a translation of Li's letter. We've used the version printed in TBN; there's another version printed in Huashang Morning Post that has slight differences - additional phrases in some places, deletions in others.

Respected Netizens:

Here I would like to say a thousand apologies to all the people who are concerned about the cat torture affair, to express my heartfelt respect for all those caring netizens who truly love animals, and to express my deepest regret over the horrible deaths of those animals.

I would like to explain three things:

1) This affair indeed had something to do with me;
2) This movie I have indeed sold over the Internet;
3) This movie was not in fact shot by me.

The detailed story goes like this: In summer, 2005, I added a friend to my QQ. In talking for a bit, the contact learned that I work for a TV station, and he became more chatty. He said that he was from Jilin Province, and that he really liked shooting movies. He then asked me about my invome, and said that there was a kind of movie that made big money. I asked him what it was about. He said that the film had no sex whatsoever, it wasn't illegal, but the actors were hard to find.

Through his explanation, I found the type of film was called beauties crushing animals. I said I couldn't do it. He said, there's nothing for you to be afraid of. First, it's not illegal, second, you don't need to put in any money, and third, you don't need to shoot it. You only need to contact the performers. After it's finished shooting I'll send the film to you, and you can sell it for money. I said I'd give it a try. I asked for his phone number, and he said to use QQ for contact.

After over a month, in July or August, I wanted to tell him that I couldn't find anyone, but he never answered. (Now I realize that after talking to me he would put my name on the blacklist, and every time he wanted to talk to me again he would add me. His QQ name was a long string of English letters, different each time.)

After a while, I met the performer in this movie. Seeing her I suddenly remembered that event. In talking to her a few times, she was not too enthusiastic. She was most worried about having her image revealed on the Internet. I told her what that person had said, and said that the people who watched these films were psychologically abnormal, and wouldn't let anyone know. After a few days, that person added me and asked how things were coming. I asked him what was up, why he kept adding me. He said that you can't be too careful.

I said that the performer had pretty much agreed.

He set the time at midday on a Saturday in September, to meet in front of the bus station. He told me that he was called Changlong. When I saw him he was driving a small grey car with Heilongjiang plates. He was average height, around 30 years old. When I got in the car I saw a cardboard box with animals and a camera. Then we got the performer and went to the shooting location.

After October, he sent me the film and wired the money, and asked me to continue to help him scout performers. He planned a long partnership. Afterwards I spoke to him once.

...

According to what the man called Changlong said, he was not with crushworld. The editing of the two films together was probably done by another seller; the original details were just these. I could also add that the first person to post the pictures openly on the Internet was not some good-hearted crusader. Every person selling these films will often run into a few people calling themselves college students, who say that they have no financial support, and ask if they could have a film sent over. Usually send one or two clips for them to look at, but these people are insatiable. Probably some seller didn't grant their request, and they were shamed into anger, and posted the pictures online publicly.

After this affair, I have undertaken a deep self-reflection, how I debased myself for a little flyspeck of profit. I have hurt far too many people, and have stained what is lofty and holy. I am willing to accept anything the organization or work unit choose to do. I am willing to accept the righteous condemnation of the good-hearted citizens.

Li Yuejun
2006.3.4

UPDATE: Comments are closed on this post to prevent people with no knowledge of China or of the consequences of this case from leaving racist comments.