Man reports judge asked payment to change verdict

A man has reported that a judge in Hunan province asked him for bribes in return for helping him change a verdict, Southern Metropolis Daily reported on Monday.

Jin Yuntang, who registered a micro-blogging account in his real name, said Yin Fengwen, a judge from Tianyuan district in Zhuzhou, asked for 600,000 yuan ($99,250) in bribes from him on his micro blog, with a published video clip as evidence, the report said.

The judge had asked for 150,000 yuan during his first trial, Jin told the paper, but he could not afford that at that time.

Yin then sentenced Jin to three years imprisonment with a three-year reprieve, but the judge assured Jin he could declare him innocent in a second trial if Jin paid him 600,000 yuan, the report said.

Yin explained that the court would have a change of judge for the second trial, which would require much more money to "operate", according to the report.

The district court is investigating the incident and has suspended Yin from work, the report added.