Death penalty convict sparks official probe

Judge and prison staff investigated over how ex-inmate evaded punishment

Eleven people in Yunnan, including a former senior prisons official and a local high court judge, have been detained over their possible roles in helping a criminal who had been given the death penalty escape punishment.

The case of Sun Xiaoguo came to light after a central inspection group on Sunday demanded a thorough investigation of how he appeared to have escaped justice. The high-profile case has triggered widespread public concern over possible corruption in the judicial and prison systems.