A Chinese journalist has been reportedly arrested for exposing corruption of some high-ranking officials on his microblog.
Liu Hu, who works for the Guangzhou-based News Express newspaper, was taken from his home in Chongquing in August and formally arrested late last month over charges of defamation.
According to the BBC, the arrest of Liu is regarded as part of the Chinese government's crackdown on those who spread online rumours, in a bid to tighten control over the Internet.
Liu's lawyer Zhou Ze said that the charge is a 'speech crime' adding that the government could be retaliating against Liu because he had detailed specific allegations against many officials from different provinces.
Liu had posted details of the alleged corruption involving high-ranking officials, including four at vice-ministerial level, but when he was detained by the police, his posts were deleted, the report added.
