A businessman wrongly imprisoned in North China on tax-evasion charges is suing the court that tried him, seeking 69.8 million yuan ($11.2 million) in damages.
Jiao Zhanjun was exonerated on appeal in 2011 after staying in jail for two years (from 2001 to 2003) and a legal battle that lasted eight years (from 2003 to 2011).
He said his demand for record compensation from Anguo court in Hebei province is to draw attention to incompetent grassroots-level judges.
"I know the odds of my getting it all are slim," the 58-year-old said, "but I need to tell the public about my losses from the poor performance of some judges, and about the serious harm it can do to individuals and society."
He said over the eight-year legal battle, he suffered physically and mentally, while his traditional Chinese medicine business, Daren Pharmaceuticals Corp, as well as a hotel he owned, were both forced to close.
Jiao was originally detained in 2001 on allegations his company had failed to pay 1.58 million yuan in taxes.
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