Manager at scandal-hit paper plotted assault

A former manager of a Shenzhen newspaper pleaded guilty to hiring thugs to injure a deputy editor-in-chief who publicly opposed her under-the-table deals with the editor-in-chief, mainland media said yesterday.

Li Ying , former director of two training and development centres at the Shenzhen Legal Daily, appeared in Luohu District People's Court on Monday accused of hiring two thugs to assault the deputy editor near his home in 2004.

Li is the second senior staff member from the newspaper to face criminal charges within a week. Last week, former editor Su Hongyu admitted taking 850,000 yuan (HK$958,500) in bribes, including 200,000 yuan from Li. Prosecutors said Li hired He Xiaoming and Wang Yun to assault the deputy editor, who suffered skull fractures.

Although Li pleaded guilty, she argued that Su was the main instigator because he had provided the deputy editor's picture and home address.

Li said Su also had personal contact with the two thugs and reminded them to 'neither assault the man in the newspaper's office nor beat him into a critical condition'.

Li said she was not aware when and how the assault happened as she went to Taiwan on business. But testimony from one of the attackers suggested Li was the main plotter.