This is a welcome surprise.
In a case widely seen as testing the limits of press freedom in China, a court has slashed the prison sentences of two senior newspaper executives who were convicted on embezzlement and bribery charges, the Xinhua news agency said yesterday.
The Intermediate Court in Guangzhou cut former Southern Metropolitan Daily general manager Yu Huafeng’s 12-year term to eight years, Xinhua said.
Former editor-in-chief Li Minying’s sentence was reduced from 11 to six years.
It’s certainly a good thing, although the article doesn’t give much insight into why the court did this. Next, I’m hoping we here something about the fate of the paper’s editor Cheng Yizhong, waiting in jail with no information on what he’s being charged with.
1
By Simon
Actually the court hasn’t given any reasons yet for the reduced sentence.
June 15, 2004 @ 11:21 pm | Comment
2
By Daai Tou Laam Diary
Yu Huafeng Plans To Appeal To A Higher Court
It seems that even with the lighter sentencing, the defense team knows that justice was not served.
June 16, 2004 @ 2:37 am | Comment