Wrongfully executed man's parents get compensation

The parents of a wrongfully convicted and executed young man received about 2 million yuan ($319,792) in compensation from the Chinese government Tuesday, nearly two months after a court cleared their son's name.

Li Sanren and Shang Aiyun, the parents of Huugjilt, who was wrongly convicted of murder and rape 19 years ago, said they would use the money to move their son's grave.

"We have visited a few places and we are planning to relocate our son's grave after the Chinese New Year," Shang said. They added that their main concern at the moment is that those who are to blame for wrongfully killing their son face punishment for their wrongdoings and that the related departments learn the lessons of this case, so that there are no more similar tragedies in the future.

Li and Shang received a call from the High People's Court of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Monday asking them to go to the court to collect their compensation.

The high court told them that the sum included compensation for the wrongful death, funeral expenses, and compensation for Huugjilt's detention.

Huugjilt, who was 18 at the time of his death, was given the death sentence in 1996, accused of raping and killing a young woman. He was executed 62 days later.

In 2005, a serial rapist and murderer named Zhao Zhihong confessed to the crime. In 2014, Huugjilt's case was reopened with the help of lawyers and social media.

Parents of wrongfully accused, executed teen seek state compensation

Huugjilt was found guilty of raping and murdering a woman in a public toilet in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, on April 9, 1996, and convicted of the crimes on May 23. Just 18 days later, he was executed.