Chinese paedophile rapist gets eight years

KUNMING - A former county official was sentenced to eight years in prison for the rape of an infant girl, three years more than the previous sentence.

The People's Court in Daguan County in southwest China's Yunnan Province, announced the extended prison term for Guo Yuchi, a former official of Daguan, three days after an in camera retrial.

Guo got five years at a trial in September but his "lenient" sentence caused public outcry. A statement from the court last Friday said Guo deserved a harsher penalty because was a public servant. The original sentence was "inappropriate," said the statement.

The criminal law stipulates  between three and ten years for rape of an adult. If the victim is under 14, the offender should be given a heavier sentence within the range.

The court noted that the new sentence took into consideration that Guo candidly confessed during police interrogation and compensated the victim's family. The original verdict rejected compensation for the girl's family, but Guo later agreed to pay the family 150,000 yuan ($24,660) in compensation.

The victim's mother said the new sentence is "lighter" than her expectation, but the family have not decided whether to appeal.

On October 24, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Justice jointly announced a guideline on tougher penalties for public servants involved in sexual offenses against minors, after a spate of child abuse cases by government employees and teachers.