Li's mother, Meng Ge, shows up outside the Haidian District People’s Court in Beijing on Wednesday morning. She ignored questions posed by journalists. Photo: IC

 
The teenage son of two renowned Chinese singers, who was allegedly involved in a gang rape case, stood trial in a local court in Beijing on Wednesday.

Five men, including the teenage boy, were detained on February 20 after a woman surnamed Yang reported to the local police that she was taken to a hotel and gang-raped after drinking with the men in a bar on February 17.

Police insiders, who refused to be named, said that the son of Li Shuangjiang, dean of the music department of the People's Liberation Army Academy of Arts, is among the five suspects.

The Beijing Haidian District People's Procuratorate filed rape charges against the five suspects on July 8.

During two meetings held before the trial, lawyers of the five suspects and the victim disagreed on whether it was a gang rape or prostitution case.

Li's mother, Meng Ge, arrived at the court at 9:10 am on Wednesday but ignored questions from journalists.

She had applied to make the trial a public hearing, but her application was overruled by the court, as the case involves juveniles, whose privacy is protected by law.

Tian Canjun, lawyer of the victim, told the Xinhua News Agency earlier that Yang, the victim, is under great psychological stress and has been hospitalized. She did not participate in the trial.

Tian told reporters that details on the case would be released after Thursday's court trial. The trial will last two days, said the court.

Li Shuangjiang, 74, built his reputation by singing popular patriotic songs.

It is not the first time that the younger Li has been in trouble.

The 17-year-old and another teenager attacked a couple who allegedly blocked their driveway in Beijing two years ago. He was sent to a government correctional facility for one year.

Global Times - Agencies