Disgraced official angry he cannot buy way out of jail

• Source: Global Times
• [04:06 November 19 2009]
• Comments

The case has triggered an angry public debate over "fake charities" in the court system.

"It is not donating, it is blackmailing," Qu Xinjiu, a criminal law professor at China University of Political Science and Law, told the Global Times. "I could only say the court's intention is good, but the way they handled the case is wrong."

A local newspaper, Changjiang Times, reported in July that a court in Hubei Province reduced the sentence of a manager who was arrested for misusing 130,000 yuan of public money and "donated" 30,000 yuan ($4,300) to aid poor students. His sentence was reduced from 8 years to 4 years.

Yang Guodong, a newspaper commentator, told the Global Times that he worried over "fake donations" becoming a trend.

"If people can reduce sentence by pouring money into the court, then how could we trust the law?" Yang asked.