A 90-year-old woman in China has garnered widespread attention after dedicating herself to studying criminal law in order to defend her son, who faces extortion charges amounting to 117 million yuan (S$21 million).”
Madam He appeared at Zhoushan Intermediate People’s Court in Zhejiang Province to support her 57-year-old son, Mr Lin, who faces serious criminal allegations.
Mother’s Determination Amid Multi-Million Dollar Extortion Charges
Police detained Mr Lin in March 2023 at his workplace. His family received a criminal detention notice the following day, citing suspected extortion.
Mr Lin serves as the controlling shareholder of two companies: Zhoushan Donglian Gas Co Ltd and Zhoushan Baiwang Jinqi Transportation Co Ltd. Both firms operated in the gas supply and transport industry for years.
Prosecutors allege that between 2014 and 2017, Mr Lin and his company’s finance officer, Ms Li, coerced the head of a shipbuilding giant into making the payment.
The pair reportedly used reports of the company’s tax and invoice violations as leverage against Huang, who heads Jinhai Heavy Industry. Huang ranked 88th on the 2009 Hurun Rich List with assets worth eight billion yuan (S$1.55 billion).
Mr Lin’s legal team argues that the case represents a civil dispute being wrongfully criminalised. They claim Mr Lin was merely trying to recover debts owed to his companies and compensation for business losses.
The defence maintains that the whistleblowing actions were lawful and backed by legitimate claims. They insist Mr Lin never intended illegal possession, which would be required for criminal charges.
Self-Taught Legal Studies Despite Advanced Age and Poor Eyesight
Despite having only a junior high school education, Madam He refused to let her lack of formal legal training deter her mission. After her son’s arrest, she purchased copies of China’s Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Law. She taught herself legal principles despite poor eyesight and advanced age.
Madam He wakes at 4am each day to study, using a magnifying glass to take detailed notes.
She visits the court regularly to review case documents, regardless of weather conditions. Her dedication has impressed court observers and legal professionals alike.
The family opposed her decision to represent her son personally in court. However, Madam He remained determined to take the stand herself rather than burden the younger generation with the case.
Dramatic Court Appearance During Typhoon Conditions
On 30 Jul, as a typhoon swept across the region, Madam He appeared at Zhoushan Intermediate People’s Court alongside her son’s lawyer to attend the hearing.
Due to safety restrictions, only about ten direct family members were allowed in the courtroom, with other relatives watching a livestream on the second floor.
When Mr Lin entered in handcuffs, Madam He held back tears as she scrutinised her son’s condition. She continued reading through legal documents using her magnifying glass throughout the proceedings.
Even after feeling unwell in the afternoon and having her blood pressure spike to 190, she refused to leave the courtroom.
Speaking to reporters, Madam He explained that Mr Lin is the youngest of her three children and her only son. Three of her grandchildren have graduated from prestigious universities, with one still a minor.
“I know I’m old, but he is my son. I must do everything I can to defend him,” she said tearfully. “I’m a mother. I want to save my son. If he’s guilty, he should be sentenced accordingly. But if he’s not, I hope he can return home soon.”
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