State paid millions to redress legal errors

The central government paid almost 90 million yuan ($14.5 million) in compensation in one year to people convicted of crimes they were later proved not to have committed, according to recently released data.

Up to 825 individuals received such compensation in 2013, costing 87.35 million yuan, an amount roughly equal to the value of 248,000 barrels of oil.

The 2013 work report of the Supreme People's Court said courts heard 2,045 cases relating to State compensation for these and other cases where individuals were unduly harmed through government actions.