A Chinese court on Friday upheld its decision to sentence blind
mob organizer Chen Guangcheng to more than four years in jail after
a retrial.
Chen was sentenced to four years and three months by the
People's Court in Yinan County, eastern Shandong Province, after being convicted of
damaging public property and organizing a mob to disrupt
traffic.
The same court passed the sentence on Aug. 19, but Chen appealed
to the Intermediate People's Court in Linyi City. On Oct. 31, the
intermediate court demanded a retrial of Chen's case, saying Chen's
right to defend himself had been restricted.
The county court appointed a different jury for the case and
held a court session on Nov. 27.
Chen destroyed public facilities, including office windows, in
February in the village of East Shigu to vent his anger at workers
who were carrying out poverty-relief programs, the court said.
In March, he organized a group of people to stop traffic for
three hours and delayed more than 290 vehicles, including an
ambulance that was carrying an expectant mother to hospital, the
court said.
He was given four years for causing traffic congestion and seven
months for deliberately damaging public property, according to the
court.
(Xinhua News Agency December 1, 2006)