Court to hear airport bomber's appeal

A Beijing court agreed on Monday to hear an appeal from Ji Zhongxing, who was sentenced earlier this month to six years in prison for setting off explosives at Beijing Capital International Airport in July.

The Beijing Municipal No 3 Intermediate People's Court said it had agreed to hear the appeal after reviewing related materials.

Ji, 33, who uses a wheelchair, was jailed for causing an explosion in a public place, by ruling of the Chaoyang District People's Court in Beijing on Oct 15.

A native of Shandong province, Ji set off a homemade explosive device outside the airport's Terminal 3 arrivals exit on July 20, severely injuring himself.

The blast caused chaos at the scene and forced the closure of the arrivals exit and the evacuation of passengers.

Ji, who once worked in Guangdong province, has for 10 years been petitioning about alleged unjust treatment that resulted in his paralysis, according to a police investigation.

Ji has also taken the Dongguan city government to court for not certifying that the injuries to his legs came, as he claims, from being beaten by security officers when he worked in the city.

Ji's lawyer Liu Xiaoyuan claims the Dongguan city government set up a working group to investigate Ji's claim of being beaten by security officers in 2005 but have not disclosed their findings.

Ji also filed against the Guangzhou Provincial Bureau of Public Security.