Man applies for 20.88 million yuan compensation for 6 years’ imprisonment

A man from central China's Henan province recently submitted an application to a local court for 20.88 million yuan in state compensation after spending six years behind bars due to an unjust verdict, Chengdu Commercial Daily reported on Thursday.

The compensation request was the highest there has been within the last five years.

The man, Song Zhengguang, was accused of indecent assault and the murder of his cousin in 2007 when he was only 16 years old.

Later, he was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment by the Zhoukou Intermediate People's Court, while Henan High People's Court rejected the verdict and ordered a retrial due to unclear facts.

Six years later, the prosecutor withdrew the lawsuit and Song was released in December 2013.

Six years of imprisonment has isolated the young man from society. In addition, his parents were sentenced to jail for affray and racketeering in connection with their petitions to the court.

On Jan. 26, Song applied for a compensation of 20.88 million yuan, including 20.16 million yuan for mental damages.

Currently, Song is hunting for a job in Dongguan in Guangdong province, but his parents are still behind bars.