Ex-mayor has jail time reduced by writing books

A corrupt official who had affairs with 107 women and was jailed for bribery had his sentence reduced after writing four books about traditional Chinese culture.

Zhang Erjiang, a former official from Hubei province, has been named as among 2,186 "active reforming inmates" in Qinduankou prison, the Chutian Metropolis Daily reported yesterday.

His sentence was reduced by one-and-a-half years for "special contribution to society" after he penned four books on classic literature, including the Book of Poetry, Sun Tzu's Art of War and the Book of History.