Former official pursues lawsuit over unfair laojiao sentence

Ren Jianyu, a former village official in Chongqing who wrongfully spent almost a year behind bars, is calling for the officials who wrongfully sentenced him to be punished.

Ren filed a lawsuit against the officials in August that was rejected by the court, but he re-submitted the materials to the Chongqing No 3 Intermediate People's Court on Nov 28, qq.com reported.

Ren was sentenced to two years behind bars by the local laojiao committee after being accused of spreading negative information online. Laojiao means rehabilitation through labor.

The committee admitted the decision was made inappropriately on Nov 19 and released Ren, after he had served almost half of his sentence.

Ren filed a lawsuit against the committee in August, but the court dismissed the case, saying it has exceeded the time limit for filing a lawsuit against an administrative decision, which is within three months.

China Daily's call to the local court went unanswered on Nov 28.