Media must not judge suspects of corruption

Before a court issues its verdict on a suspected corrupt official, the media should not organize virtual kangaroo courts to pronounce him/her guilty, because every suspect has the right to a fair trial. The media should know that trying to twist a case or influence a judgment is an abuse of the freedom of expression and one's right to defense.

The mayor of the county-level city of Gaoping in Shanxi province was sacked last month for suspected violation of discipline. Later it came to light that she had established intimate relations with some of her superior and subordinate officials to seek favors, and many believe she is the first woman civil servant to be pulled up for adultery in recent years.

As soon as the news of her adultery became public, her photographs, family information and gossip flooded some of the social media websites. Perhaps the most used photograph on the Internet is one showing her in tears while begging not to be detained.