A Tianjin court yesterday sentenced Chen Weili , son of former Shanghai Communist Party secretary Chen Liangyu , to three years in jail suspended for four years for his role in the scandal over massive misuse of the city's social security fund.
The sentence for corruption - considered lenient by mainland standards - immediately drew criticism from netizens who asked why the son was let off so lightly.
In April, Chen Liangyu was sentenced to 18 years in prison, also by Tianjin Number 2 Intermediate People's Court, for bribery and abuse of power.
Yesterday the court said Chen Weili was given the suspended sentence because he had shown a 'good attitude' and had acknowledged his mistakes acting as an accomplice in his father's crimes.
Beijing Evening News said Chen Weili accepted the judgment and would not appeal.
Chen Liangyu was found guilty in April partly for using funds belonging to Shanghai's social security fund as loans to companies.
One of the companies, Huawen Investment Holding, paid Chen Weili 1 million yuan a year as 'salary' and he in turn ran a subsidiary under Huawen in Hong Kong.