Man from Taiwan sentenced to 5 years in prison for subverting state power

YUEYANG, Hunan -- Lee Ming-che from Taiwan was sentenced to five years in prison for "subverting state power" by the Intermediate People's Court of Yueyang City in Hunan Province Tuesday.

Mainland resident Peng Yuhua was sentenced to seven years in prison on the same charge.

The two men were both deprived of their political rights for two years. They said they would not appeal.

Prosecutors accused Peng of roping in dozens of people, including Lee, to establish an organization aimed at subverting state power and overturning the country's political system, using instant messaging services.

On March 19, 2017, Lee was put under coercive measures by the Hunan provincial security organ on suspicion of subverting state power.