In response to the local people's anger, the authorities in charge of legal affairs in Henan Province said Monday they will look into a serial murder case in order to uncover possible misconduct by government officials concerned.

Huang Yong, 29, kidnapped and murdered 17 high-school students and injured one, from September 2001. Huang's crime had neither been stopped nor even been detected by local police until early this month, when the 18th student made a rare escape from Huang's home with serious wounds and reported to the police.

The suspect was arrested on November 21.

The provincial authorities have formed a joint investigation team and pledged to punish anybody found responsible for a cover-up, in accordance with the law.

(Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2003)