Television reporter denies extortion

A reporter from China Central Television (CCTV), who reported that a well-known furniture company deceived consumers about the origin of its high-end products, has dismissed claims that he fabricated false reports and extorted 1 million yuan ($150,000) from the company.

"I'm responsible for the authenticity of my investigative reports," the reporter Li Wenxue said in a statement posted on the website of China Network Television on Sunday.

"It's slander that Doris Phua (general manager of Da Vinci) gave me 1 million yuan," Li said.

Li was responding to a claim by the furniture company Da Vinci that it paid him 1 million yuan ($150,000) to calm the public anger that erupted following his report in July, which alleged that the company's high-end furniture, which it claimed was made in Italy, was actually manufactured in a factory in Guangdong province, shipped to Italy, then transported back to China.

Huang Zhixin, a spokesman for Da Vinci, said on Saturday that the company believed Li had deliberately fabricated false reports and collaborated with others to extort money from the company and that they had reported the case to the police and the General Administration of Press and Publication and the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television in December.