Final hearing for mother's labor camp suit begins

CHANGSHA - A high court began a hearing Tuesday morning to review efforts by the mother of a young rape victim to sue a local government for putting her in a labor camp in Changsha, capital of Central China's Hunan province.

Tang Hui speaks to media before a hearing outside the Hunan Provincial Higher People's Court, July 2. [Photo by Fan Yuanzhi/Asianewsphoto.com]

Tang Hui, who petitioned for harsher punishments for those found guilty of raping her daughter and forcing her into prostitution, is demanding that a judgment made in April by the Intermediate People's Court of the city of Yongzhou be overturned, according to Hunan Provincial People's High Court.

The Yongzhou Intermediate People's Court denied her request for an apology from the local re-education through labor commission, as well as the 2,463.85 yuan ($399.5) she requested as compensation for the time she spent in the camp.

Tang appealed to the high court on April 30 and the review was accepted by the court in May.

In October 2006, Tang's then 11-year-old daughter was kidnapped, raped and forced into prostitution. She was rescued on December 30, 2006.

On June 5, 2012, the Hunan Provincial Higher People's Court sentenced two of the girl's kidnappers to death. Four others were given life sentences and another one received a 15-year prison term.

Tang petitioned for harsher punishments for those found guilty. She was put in a labor camp in Yongzhou for "seriously disturbing social order and exerting a negative impact on society" after protesting in front of local government buildings on August 2, 2012.

She was sentenced to 18 months in the camp, but was released eight days later amid public outcry urging her release.

In January, the Yongzhou re-education through labor commission rejected her demand for state compensation for the time she spent in the camp.

On January 22, Tang filed a lawsuit at the Intermediate People's Court in Yongzhou in which she asked for 2,463.85 yuan in compensation, the same amount specified in her appeal. Her case was heard on January 28, with courtroom proceedings lasting a single day.

On April 12, the court ruled that Tang was not entitled to the compensation she requested.