Release of wrongly sentenced man sparks heated discussion

Chen and his lawyers, Wang Wanqiong, right, and Yi Yanyou, left. [Photo/CFP]

Some Internet users said Chen is lucky to be able to walk out of prison alive and spend Chinese New Year with his family though he wrongfully spent 23 years of his prime in prison.

Others, however, said a simple word of acquittal can't make up for Chen's loss and urged reflection on loopholes in current laws and severe punishment of involved law enforcement officials.

Elsewhere, 27 officials were penalized with one suspected of job-related crimes and subject to further investigation and the remainder receiving only administrative penalties over the wrongful conviction and execution of Huugjilt 20 years ago, authorities in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region said in a statement Sunday night.

Huugjilt's conviction was overturned in December 2014 after the teenager was ruled not guilty of rape and murder. He was executed when only 18.

When comparing Chen's case to that of Huugjilt, some Internet users said punishment for the officials involved with Huugjilt is too light and hurts the rule of law more than wrongful cases, while others said if punishments were heavy it was likely Chen wouldn't be acquitted because nobody would dare overturn his case.