Nian faces delay over cash verdict

Nian Bin, who was released from prison after being cleared of murder, is still waiting to hear the outcome of his claim for State compensation, although a court has reached a decision on the matter.

Fuzhou Intermediate People's Court in Fujian province announced on its micro blog on Sunday that it had asked Nian and his lawyers to attend court on Monday to hear the judgment.

However, his elder sister Nian Jianlan said the family was not told of the development until Monday, and Nian did not have time to get to the court because he was in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.

"I didn't know the news until the court gave me a call on Monday morning," said Nian Jianlan. "I'm so angry. We're the litigant, but we were the one that was told the information last. The court didn't respect us."

Speaking on Monday afternoon, she added: "I'm taking my brother to have medical treatment in Shenzhen, which means we can't go back to Fuzhou to get the judgment at the earliest opportunity."

At 6 pm on Monday, the court had not released any details about the judgment or revealed the amount of any compensation.

Nian Bin, with his family members and attorneys, applied for compensation of more than 15 million yuan ($2.4 million) on Dec 25, and asked the court for an apology. The court accepted the application four days later.

Under the State compensation law, courts are required to reach a verdict within two months of litigants submitting applications, and the judgment should be delivered within 10 days of it being reached.

"We want to have a face-to-face talk with the court to obtain more specific information, such as how it decides the amount of compensation," Nian Jianlan added.

Nian Bin, 38, was arrested in 2006 after two of his neighbors in Pingtan, Fujian province, died from poisoning after having dinner. Police viewed him as a suspect because he was not on good terms with the victims' family.

In 2008, Nian was sentenced to death in Fuzhou Intermediate People's Court for poisoning and murder.

Two years later, the country's top court refused to approve the death penalty.

Nian was again sentenced to death in 2011 in the intermediate court after the case was reviewed.

However, last August the provincial high court decided he was innocent, citing a lack of evidence, and ordered his release.

In November, police in Pingtan said they had reopened the case and barred Nian from leaving the mainland.

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn