Pop singer's wife convicted of providing venue for drug use

BEIJING, Aug. 3 -- Li Li, wife of Chinese pop singer Man Wenjun,

has been sentenced to one year's imprisonment after being found guilty of

providing a venue for drug use.

A spokesman of the Chaoyang People's Court confirmed Monday Li Li was also

fined 2,000 yuan (about 294 U.S.dollars).

The court was told that Li Li booked a room in a nightclub, CoCo Banana,

near the Workers' Stadium in the Chaoyang District for her birthday party on May

18. Forty guests were in attendance.

Acting on tip-offs, the police raided the nightclub and detained Li and Man

Wenjun on charges of using drugs. Early the following day police made a drugs

seizure which included an amount of ecstasy.

Man Wenjun tested positive for ecstasy following urinalysis. He was

detained but was released June 3.

Man, 40, began his career singing in a pub and became a household name from

the mid '90s because of a strong voice and healthy image. He was also a

torchbearer for the Beijing Olympics Prosecutors accused Li of enabling others

to take drugs at the birthday party and read out testimony from 22 people,

including Man.

Li admitted said she had brought 16 tablets of ecstasy to the party, but

said they were originally intended to alleviate hangovers of party guests who

had drunk too much alcohol. On the evening in question, she said she had taken

only half an ecstasy tablet, and had also drank a cola supplement drink.

The court ruled that leniency should be shown toward Li because she had

admitted providing a venue for drug use. Li also showed remorse.

It was not immediately known if Li would appeal the decision.

In Chinese law, a guilty party can receive a prison term of up to three

years and also be fined for enabling others to use drugs.