Chinese general's son pleads not guilty to gang-rape charge

The son of a senior officer of the Chinese army accused of taking part in a gang-rape incident has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Li Tainyi, the 17-year-old son of Li Shuangjiang, dean of the music department of the Chinese army's Academy of Arts, Thursday pleaded not guilty to taking part in the gang-rape that allegedly took place at a hotel in Beijing Feb 17 this year, the Shanghai Daily reported Friday.

However, four others who were also charged for the crime, have pleaded guilty to the charges.

The trial is being held in private at the Beijing Haidian District Court as four of the accused are juveniles.

The five accused were detained Feb 20 after a woman surnamed Yang complained to the police that she had been taken to a hotel and raped after drinking with the men in a bar Feb 17, according to Xinhua.

Prosecutors filed rape charges against the five defendants, saying they violently forced Yang to have sex.

Since four of them are still juveniles they should receive less severe punishment, the prosecutors said.

"One defendant helped the police arrest his accomplices, so his punishment can be mitigated," they said

Meetings between the defendants and their guardians were also arranged during trial breaks.

Li Shuangjiang, a general in the Chinese army, is well known for his rendition of patriotic songs.