Notorious internet celebrity Guo Meimei to be freed after serving jail term for illegal gambling
- Socialite who flaunted flashy lifestyle online expected to be released later this month
One of China’s most notorious internet personalities will be released from jail next week after serving a five-year sentence for operating illegal casinos in Beijing, according to Shanghai-based news outlet Thepaper.cn.
Guo Meimei, a 28-year-old socialite and viral celebrity, was at the centre of a nationwide scandal back in 2011 when she flaunted her flashy lifestyle on social media to millions of followers, while falsely claiming that she worked at a firm linked to the state-backed Red Cross Society of China.
The news outlet reported on Monday that an “authoritative person” confirmed that Guo would be released on Saturday, July 13, at the end of her five-year term.
The scandal badly tarnished the Red Cross’ reputation in China even as the organisation denied any links with Guo, who became a poster girl for the worst excesses of China’s wealthy elite.
Guo regularly posted photos of herself posing with luxury cars and designer clothing on her Weibo profile, attracting widespread attention.
In 2014, Guo was detained on suspicion of running gambling sessions, engaging in prostitution and posting fraudulent information online during the World Cup.