Prison for activist who wrote book on scandal

Dissident Guo Feixiong has been sentenced to five years in jail for conducting 'illegal business activities', his wife and his lawyer have said.

Guo's wife, Zhang Qing , said the Tianhe District Court in Guangzhou also fined her husband 40,000 yuan yesterday.

Guo, 40, also known as Yang Maodong , did not appeal immediately as he wanted to confer with his lawyer, Mo Shaoping , said Ms Zhang, who was the only family member to attend the hearing.

Mr Mo said he would persuade his client to appeal.

'I would definitely urge him to appeal within 10 days, according to the law,' Mr Mo said. 'I know Mr Guo himself doesn't agree with the verdict. This is the only chance for him to prove his innocence.'

Ms Zhang said her husband appeared calm when the sentence was passed.

'My husband spoke only when the judge asked him to speak in mitigation for himself,' she said.