Netizen on trial for online slander

A netizen who accused a local official of corruption in an online post is standing trial on a charge of slander in Shandong province.

Duan Lei, 28, from Cao county, is accused of publishing a message on websites blog.sina.com.cn, www.tianya.cn and tieba.baidu.com in February alleging Guo Feng, secretary of the Zhuangzhai town Communist Party committee, took bribes and used his position to ensure his family won construction contracts, the Xinhua New Agency reported yesterday.

The message also alleged that Guo's son traded drugs, organized prostitution and kept mistresses while running a local KTV nightclub.