程益中

I was a little surprised at EastSouthWestNorth's readiness to accept at face value the corruption charges against Cheng Yizhong (程益中). Philip P. Pan has an article (In China, an Editor Triumphs, and Fails) that gives some background about the case. An article in his paper led to an exposé of "abuses in a nationwide network of detention camps that purchased and sold inmates like slaves" which led to the abolishment of the detention system, depriving "police agencies, a powerful branch of the state, of a lucrative source of income. More important, the story had embarrassed local leaders..." As far as the charge of corruption goes, the article merely says

...the amount of money involved was relatively small. Journalists across the country signed petitions in protest, and many who had campaigned against the detention law began lobbying on behalf of the Southern Metropolis Daily.

Cheng remains in prison but has not yet been charged with a crime, a sign that party leaders have not decided what to do.

The Southern Metropolis Daily is still publishing, but editors are more careful about criticizing local authorities. Almost all of the paper's key ad salesmen have resigned, and dozens of reporters have quit. In the first quarter of the year, officials said, the paper lost $1.5 million.

But the new tabloid started by Cheng in Beijing has adopted the aggressive style of the old Daily and appears to be prospering.

Given the circumstances, I'm more likely to suspect the Chinese authorities of unfairness than blame Cheng. Maybe he'll be freed as the jailed Jiang Yanyong was.