Chinese citizens’ rights activist Hao Jinsong jailed for 9 years for fraud and ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’
- Hao’s campaigns to defend people’s rights once attracted favourable coverage in state media for his work to defend consumer rights
- Details of the case have not been made public, but picking quarrels and provoking troubles is a catch-all charge
A prominent Chinese legal activist has been jailed for fraud and “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”, the Post has learned.
Hao Jinsong, a public interest litigator, was given a nine-year sentence by a court in Dingxiang county in Shanxi province on Thursday, according to people familiar with the case. The verdict and details of the accusations have not been made public.
Hao’s work to defend citizens’ rights once saw him given favourable coverage in state media and awards for his contribution to social progress.
In 2008, Hao made a shortlist compiled by state broadcaster CCTV of those who had done the most to protect consumer rights. Between 2005 and 2010 various media outlets also featured him in annual round-ups of people who had made a positive contribution to society.
Hao held a graduate degree in criminal litigation from China University of Political Science and Law, but he chose to pursue administrative lawsuits as a citizen or citizen proxy instead of becoming a lawyer.
Details of his case, which has dragged on for almost two years, were first reported by the mainland media outlet Caixin in 2021, which said he denied three charges against him.
