An outspoken Chinese entrepreneur and dissident was sentenced to prison and  heavy fined on July 28. Two law experts said the harsh ruling signals a new wave of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) campaign of targeting private firms to acquire their assets. A court in Hebei Province sentenced Sun Dawu, 67, to 18 years in prison and a fine of $480,000. The charges against him included gathering crowds to attack state agencies, obstructing public service, illegally occupying agricultural land, and illegally taking public deposits. Sun is a rural tycoon and founder of Dawu Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Group. He is locally known for his independent political views, and has been called “the conscience of Chinese entrepreneurs.” Sun’s company has more than 9,000 employees, $312 million in fixed assets, and an annual output valued at more than $467 million according to China expert Wang Youqun. Nineteen executives of his group, including his …