90-year-old woman learns law to defend son in Rs 140 crore extortion case in China

The elderly woman reportedly bought books on criminal law and criminal procedure and visited the court daily to study case files. (Image credit: Copilot)

A 90-year-old woman in eastern China has made headlines after she decided to study law to help her businessman son, who is an accused in a Rs 140 crore extortion case. According to South China Morning Post (SCMP), the 57-year-old, identified as Lin, and his accountant allegedly blackmailed a local tycoon entrepreneur, Huang—once among China’s top 100 richest individuals—into paying the sum by threatening to expose tax irregularities.

Lin was arrested in April 2023 after Huang filed a police complaint earlier that year, but it was Lin’s 90-year-old mother, surnamed He, who drew attention for her extraordinary decision to defend her son in court. Missing him deeply, she began studying law in the second half of last year, despite objections from her family. “My grandmother is stubborn and she did not listen to the advice of others,” her granddaughter told Huashang News. “She bought books on criminal law and the law of criminal procedure before studying law by herself.”

On the day of the hearing, she watched her son enter the courtroom in handcuffs, trying to hold back tears.

Lin has also hired a lawyer to assist his mother in the defence.

Hours into the proceedings, the nonagenarians became visibly emotional and unwell. Doctors from an ambulance stationed outside the court examined her and recommended hospitalisation. “All of us asked her to go to the hospital, but she did not want to leave the court,” her granddaughter said.