Court tweets libeler must apologize

A slanderous online commentator must obey a previous court order, pay compensation and apologize for defaming an actress, a Beijing court announced through its official microblog Thursday.

The Chaoyang District People's Court ordered Xia Sasha to fulfill its 2013 ruling by paying 64,500 yuan ($10,340) compensation for psychological damage and apologize on his Sina Weibo account and in newspapers. Xia was also ordered to report to the court on May 8.

From September to December 2012, Xia posted on Sina Weibo that the actress, Zhang Xinyu, worked as a high-priced escort at Hangzhou night clubs.

It was a rare move by a Beijing court to use social media to pressure a party.

Chaoyang court judge Zhang Yiban told media that the platform was carefully chosen.

"Both parties are popular Internet stars and they kept updating information," Zhang said. "This reputation dispute occurred on Weibo."

The court will forcefully execute its order if Xia, Beijing branch chairman of Global Trade Investment Consultant Company, continues to disobey.

Applauding the move, Liu Junhai, a law professor at the Renmin University of China, said the court could consider freezing Xia's company assets or confiscating his property.

"The court's public message on Weibo has in a sense helped the defamed victim clear her reputation," Liu told the Global Times.

Xia will also be black listed in the court system, hurting his credit record.