Chinese official executed for raping 11 girls

An official in central China's Henan province was executed Tuesday for raping 11 girls, sources said Wednesday.

Li Xingong, former deputy secretary general of the Yongcheng city committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), was arrested in May 2012 on charges of raping several girls starting from the second half of 2011, reported Xinhua.

The Shangqiu City Intermediate People's Court later sentenced Li to death for raping them and deprived him of his political rights for life.

Li appealed but his appeal was turned down by the Henan Provincial Higher People's Court. The execution was approved by the Supreme People's Court.

The case triggered widespread public outrage on internet.

The execution was carried out at a time when China has vowed to beef up protection for juveniles following a series of sexual abuse cases involving children.

The Supreme People's Court announced last month that courts across the country will come down harder on crimes committed against juveniles, show minimal tolerance toward such offenders and offer the greatest level of protection possible to children.