A Chinese entrepreneur in Luannan, North China’s Hebei Province, received 370,000 yuan in state compensation, although he demanded 140 million yuan, after being acquitted by the court after 1,196 days in prison.
Meng Fanquan, a 53-year-old entrepreneur, was sentenced to 14 years in prison by the People’s Court of Luannan County in 2015 for allegedly defrauding his co-operative company.
After the case was remanded twice, in August of 2017, the Tangshan Intermediate People’s Court made the final ruling which overturned the original conviction that found Meng guilty of contract fraud, saying it lacked sufficient evidence. The ruling means Meng was not guilty and he was acquitted.
In February 2019, Meng, who stayed behind bars for 1,196 days, applied to the People’s Court of Luannan County for state compensation, asking the court to compensate for his days in confinement, mental compensation and the economic loss of his enterprises and projects under construction, totaling more than 140 million yuan.
In the end, the court gave the verdict that Meng is obliged to get 373,000 yuan in compensation from the state.
Meng told local media that after the case, his wife divorced him, and his father died partially because of the initial “guilty” court ruling. Many of his businesses were hit hard, and his development and investment projects were stalled.
Meng has refused to accept the compensation decision and appealed for a larger compensation. But he was denied by the court.
Meng suggested that 373,000 yuan compensation can hardly make up for his economic losses and the damage on his reputation.
Photo: VCG
