Top poet detained over rape allegation

Wang Mingyun, vice-president of the Poetry Institute of China, a nonprofit organization, has reportedly been detained by police in Anhui province over allegations of rape.

The 55-year-old is also deputy chairman of the Writers Association of Anhui and president of the provincial branch of the Poetry Institute of China.

The administration office of Anhui Federation of Literary and Art Circles, which is in charge of the association and the institute branch, said it tried to reach Wang after his reported arrest, but failed.

An official surnamed Zhu, who is in charge of the administration office, said his department had contacted police authorities in Hefei, the provincial capital, and were told police are looking into the matter.

Zhu said his department is likely to receive a formal reply when a police investigation is concluded.

The Public Security Bureau in Hefei could not be reached for comment as of press time on Tuesday.

According to a report by thepaper.cn, a Shanghai-based media outlet, Wang was detained on Saturday over allegations of rape in Hefei.

Wang is rated one of China's top writers by the Writers Association of Anhui, which he was appointed vice-chairman of in December 2013, having joined the China Writers Association in 2004.

According to public information, he published a number of poetry anthologies, the most recent of which was released in September 2016.

zhang_yi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 01/11/2017 page5)