It is reported that the People's Court of Gangzha District in Jiangsu's Nantong sentenced the accused Ji and a transport company to 46,603.34 yuan (US$5746.4) compensation for the prosecutor Ms. Lee.

Ms. Lee was a US citizen and senior management of a US company. During a business trip reviewing investment projects in Nantong in Aug. 2003, Ms. Lee was hit by a truck driven by Ji and suffered fractures in her pelvis and left leg.

After the accident, Ms. Lee was immediately sent to a nearby hospital and later transferred to a major hospital in Shanghai for rehabilitation programs.

During her stay in the hospitals, Ms. Lee spent over 120,000 yuan on various subjects. Ms. Lee and Ji had some disputes over the amount of compensation and submitted the case to the above-mentioned court.

Ms. Lee insists that since she is a US citizen, it is very reasonable for her to receive better medical treatments. The accused, however, refutes that since the accident took place within the Chinese territory, it should be solved in accordance with relevant laws and regulations of China. Expense on top-grade ward and costly medicines should not be included in the compensation.

The court believes that since China has no special law regarding civil compensation for foreigners, the case should be adjudicated in accordance with Chinese laws, and Ms. Lee should be equally treated as a Chinese citizen in terms of civil compensation for the accident.

(Chinanews.cn August 27, 2005)