A court sentenced the teenage son of a Chinese general to 10 years in jail for rape on Thursday, court authorities said, after his trial spotlighted extravagant lifestyles among the Chinese elite.
Li Tianyi, 17, and four other males were found guilty of raping a woman in a Beijing hotel in February, court authorities said on a verified social media account.
The case drew widespread scrutiny in the country, where the children of the elite are often seen as living lavishly or above the law due to their connections.
Li's father Li Shuangjiang holds a rank equivalent to general in China's military as dean of the music department for the army's Academy of Arts, and is known for singing patriotic songs. His mother, Meng Ge, is also a prominent singer.
Li Tianyi had previously triggered controversy in 2011 after he and another teenager, both driving expensive cars, attacked a couple who reportedly blocked their passage, while the victims' child looked on.
The court did not state clearly how Li had pleaded during his trial last month. During the hearings, the Beijing News reported that he "did not admit to the sexual assault and did not admit to a relationship, saying he was drunk and did not know anything" about what happened.
The other four defendants, also minors, in the trial were sentenced to between three and 12 years in prison, with two of them receiving probation, the court authority said.
A court spokesman rejected via the official social media account online chatter that family background had led to a lighter sentence.
Internet users had speculated that Li would escape without a prison sentence, and some celebrated the verdict on Thursday.
"To be honest, the conviction is fair enough because of the public attention," said one user of Sina Weibo, a Chinese equivalent of Twitter.
Others decried what they saw as too light a sentence.
"How much do other gang rapists get? In 10 years he will be released and will be considered a great boy," said one post.
Another user criticised authorities: "The rights that people give you are not for protecting animals like them."
It was not immediately clear if Li would appeal the charge. State media quoted Li's legal advisor Lan He as saying ahead of the trial that his family would appeal if the court gave a guilty verdict.
China's new leadership under President Xi Jinping has pledged to clean up government, amid public perceptions that officials enjoy increasingly immense wealth and privilege the higher they rise.
In another high-profile scandal in 2010, the son of a police chief tried to use his father's status to avoid any consequences for a fatal car accident.
After running over a student in the northern province of Hebei, Li Qiming -- who is not related -- shouted: "Sue me if you dare. My father is Li Gang!"
His words became a catchphrase used to refer to children of powerful families who appeared to act with impunity.
AFP
Thu Sep 26 2013
Kanak-kanak Orang Asli Kuala Betis dikhuatiri lemas
Seorang kanak-kanak perempuan Orang Asli berusia tujuh tahun dikhuatiri lemas dalam satu kejadian di Sungai Nenggiri, petang tadi.
10 Berita Pilihan - (14 Jun 2024)
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Lelaki intai wanita dalam tandas awam di Batu Pahat ditahan
Polis menahan seorang lelaki tempatan dipercayai mengintai seorang wanita di dalam tandas di pusat membeli-belah di Jalan Flora Utama, Batu Pahat semalam.
Jangan politikkan program penerangan kewarganegaraan - Saifuddin Nasution
Saifuddin Nasution menggesa semua pihak supaya tidak mempolitikkan sebarang program taklimat dan penerangan berkaitan kewarganegaraan yang dianjurkan di pusat khidmat Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN).
AWANI Ringkas: Dua anggota polis terbunuh dinaikkan pangkat
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Presiden Rusia tawar perdamaian bersyarat kepada Ukraine
Presiden Rusia, Vladimir Putin menggariskan syarat-syarat Rusia untuk menamatkan serangan dan memulakan rundingan damai.
Kanak-kanak Palestin lalui apa yang tidak sepatutnya dialami - Ketua UNRWA
Kanak-kanak Palestin telah melalui apa yang tidak sepatutnya dilihat atau dialami oleh mana-mana kanak-kanak di dunia, kata Philippe Lazzarini.
Aduan salah laku integriti: DOF jamin tindakan tegas, siasatan secara holistik
Jabatan Perikanan Malaysia (DOF) akan mengambil tindakan tegas dan hukuman setimpal terhadap kakitangan yang didapati melanggar etika dan peraturan jabatan.
Kes 1MDB: Rosmah beri aku janji tidak lupuskan barangan mewah RM1.6 bilion
Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor memberikan aku janji untuk tidak melupuskan barangan kmewah yang kini berada dalam milikan atau kawalannya yang dituntut oleh 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Jemaah haji kini bertumpu di Mina
Ibadah haji tahun ini tetap mempunyai cabaran tersendiri, antaranya suhu panas yang diramal mencecah 48 darjah Celsius.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Prestasi memberangsangkan di Chengdu cetus inspirasi buat Jun Hao
Persembahan meyakinkan termasuk mengejutkan pemain di ranking tinggi seperti Angus Ng Ka Long dan Koki Watanabe, memberi inspirasi kepadanya.
Sindiket laman web lucah China jadikan Malaysia pusat operasi tumpas
Sindiket laman sesawang lucah yang menjadikan negara ini sebagai pusat operasi terbongkar susulan tangkapan empat warga China menerusi serbuan di dua kediaman elit, dekat Jalan Tun Razak.
Latihan ketenteraan Malaysia dengan Barat isyarat kepada Beijing mengenai Laut China Selatan - Laporan
Akhbar South China Morning Post menyifatkan latihan ketenteraan Malaysia bersama Singapura dan kuasa Barat, membantu' Malaysia menghantar isyarat kepada Beijing di Laut China Selatan.
Kementerian Pengangkutan terima set pertama ETS3
Malaysia telah menerima set pertama Tren Elektrik (ETS3) bagi perkhidmatan Landasan Berkembar Elektrik Gemas-Johor Bahru, semalam.
Malaysia,China setuju teliti cadangan kerangka keselamatan nasional
Kedua-dua negara turut menyatakan komitmen untuk menerokai dan menerajui kerjasama ASEAN China Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) dalam bidang keselamatan, ekonomi dan sosial.
Dron DJI mungkin diharamkan di Amerika bulan ini
Pada 12 Jun depan, Senat A.S akan membincangkan akta mengharamkan dron CCP.
Malaysia kekal bebas, sentiasa amal prinsip tidak berpihak - PM Anwar
Malaysia adalah sebuah negara bebas, dan enggan mengikut sahaja mana-mana pandangan kuasa besar dunia.
3 maut, 25 cedera dalam letupan garaj di timur China
Tiga orang terbunuh dan 25 yang lain cedera dalam letupan sebuah garaj di Wilayah Jiangxi timur China.
China setuju lanjutkan tempoh pengecualian visa untuk rakyat Malaysia - Ahmad Zahid
China bersetuju untuk melanjutkan tempoh pengecualian visa pelancong Malaysia dari 15 ke 30 hari, kata Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.