Chongqing clears man after 2-year labor camp

A man who served two years in a forced labor camp for forwarding an Internet picture depicting a local official protecting criminal gangs has been cleared, Southern Metropolis Daily reported Tuesday.

Peng Hong, from Chongqing, had his sentence quashed by the city's re-education through labor commission on Sept 7, nearly one year after he was released from serving two years at a local camp.

The 37-year-old was forced into the re-education center on October 14, 2009, when his wife was six months pregnant, for forwarding an Internet forum picture showing Wen Qiang, former director of the Chongqing Municipal Judicial Bureau, as an "umbrella" for criminal gangs.

"It was a big blow to my family," Peng said.

Peng launched the appeal to the local police almost one year after his captivity. They responded: "The error can be corrected privately". The commission quashed the sentence on Sept 7.

The re-education through labor system was first adopted in 1957. It empowers the police - instead of the courts - to incarcerate a person for up to four years. Inmates receive education and are required to do labor during their time at the center.

In 2009, Chongqing launched a massive high-profile crackdown on gang crimes. During the campaign, more than 90 local officials were prosecuted and 42 were found guilty of sheltering criminal gangs, including Wen Qiang, who was sentenced to death. The municipality busted 405 gangs and captured 4,425 suspects from June 2009 to June 2011.