A SOUTHWEST China court began a retrial Monday for a convicted rapist who was freed despite being sentenced to death in 1998.

The Yunnan Provincial Higher People’s Court in Kunming, the province’s capital, will shortly announce the verdict for Sun Xiaoguo, who was roaming free, the Xinhua News Agency reported Monday.

Yunnan procuratorial authorities have prosecuted Sun for involvement in organized gang crimes.

In connection with the case Yunnan prosecutors have investigated and prosecuted 19 people including Sun’s acquaintances, Yunnan government officials, and prison and police officers involved.

Sun was twice convicted of sexual assault and sentenced to death for multiple crimes including rape and intentional injury in 1998. He finally received 20 years of imprisonment after a third trial at the provincial higher people’s court in 2007. He was released in 2010 after multiple reductions in his sentence.

Sun’s mother was a police officer and his stepfather a former deputy director of a public security bureau in Kunming. Working with prison and court officials, Sun’s parents forged a patent for an anti-theft manhole cover that credited Sun for making an important technical innovation, which helped Sun obtain a reduced prison term, according to media reports.

Under China’s Criminal Law, convicts may have their prison terms reduced for making important technical innovations or inventions.

After being released from prison, Sun changed his surname to Li. He registered restaurants and night clubs with the new name and got involved in criminal activities again, media reported.

(Global Times)