China police chief 'apologises to rape victim's mother'

A Chinese police chief who sentenced the mother of a rape and kidnap victim to hard labour apologised to her during a court hearing today over compensation, media reports said.
Tang Hui's sentencing to 18 months in a "re-education through labour" camp for demanding her daughter's attackers be punished sparked widespread public outrage in August last year, prompting her release just a week later and unleashing criticism of the system.
"The head of the re-education through labour committee appeared in court and apologised for not acting with enough humanity or care," the Beijing Times reported.
Jiang Jianxiang also promised to "continue to coordinate with the local government to care for and look after Tang", it said.

On top of his police and sentencing posts, Jiang is also deputy mayor of Tang's home town of Yongzhou.
Earlier this year Tang lost a lawsuit seeking compensation of 1,463.85 yuan (USD 238.70) for the time she served, but she later filed an appeal.