The family of a man who died in a plotted office explosion in southwest Yunnan Province has sued local police for maligning him as a suicide bomber and demanded 2 million yuan (US$315,000) in compensation, Beijing Times reported on Sept. 3, 2012.

Zhao Dengyong [file photo]

Zhao Dengyong, a resident in Qiaojia County of Zhaotong City, was paid 100 yuan by Deng Deyong and Song Chaoyu to take a bag to the county government demolition office on May 10. Zhao didn't know the bag contained explosives. Deng and Song set off the bomb using a remote control as Zhao entered the office, killing four people including Zhao himself and injuring 16 others.

Yang Chaobang, Qiaojia County police chief, said at a press conference after the explosion that he would bet his job on the conclusion that Zhao was the suicide bomber because his diaries and online chat logs proved his hatred for the society.

However, Zhaotong City Public Security Bureau announced on August 7 that Zhao was not a suspect and said Yang's earlier remarks misled the public and hurt the feelings of Zhao's family.

Zhao's family has rejected a compensation offer of 60,000 yuan from Qiaojia police authorities and sued them to the court. Apart from asking for 2 million yuan in compensation, they also asked Qiaojia police to publish apologies in selected newspapers for seven days.