Yang Xiaoqing, a reporter for the China Industrial Economy News (China Chanjing News), was charged with blackmail and extortion after his investigative reports of corruption among local officials in Longhui County, Hunan Province were made public. On May 16, the court of Longhui County convened to try this case but a verdict will be given another day. Hundreds of residents assembled in front of the court to support Yang.
It is said that since 2001 Yang has written several reports exposing local officials’ illegal conduct appropriating state-owned property by selling it at a low price to their associates in the name of reform.
Local officials were displeased and managed to stop him from writing more reports. They even threatened him and attempted to kill him. Finally, they arrested him on the charge of extortion.
Zhang Xingshu, the lawyer defending Yang Xiaoqing, is satisfied with his defense during the trial. Yang Xiaoqing also defended his innocence. Zhang thinks their arguments of the law, the use of the facts and evidence, were more persuasive and influential than the complainant.
