Online post claims convicted official never served prison term

The government of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region is investigating why a convicted official never served his prison term, Beijing News reported.

Shi Baochun, former head of the Yangshuo county bureau of land and resources, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on July 2010 for accepting bribes. But a recent online post said he was never sent to prison after the verdict was issued.

According to the post, Shi allegedly traveled to a number of destinations either by car or by plane from November 2010 to December 2013. The post described the hotels he stayed at during the period.

The online post triggered public outcry, with many netizens questioning whether judicial corruption is to be blamed.

Yu Zuocai, a publicity official with the Guilin Intermediate People's Court, told Beijing News that Shi was allowed to serve his sentence outside prison because he was diagnosed with a heart disease and bladder cancer.

Yu added that it was difficult to track Shi's activities during the term. Local judicial authorities have begun a probe into the case.