90-Year-Old Chinese Mother Teaches Herself Law To Defend Son In $16 Million Extortion Trial

A 90-year-old Chinese woman, surnamed He, has gained widespread attention for teaching herself law to defend her 57-year-old son, Lin, in a high-profile extortion case involving 117 million yuan (approximately US$16 million). Lin was arrested in April 2023 for allegedly blackmailing a wealthy entrepreneur, Huang, a former top-100 richest individual in China, by threatening to expose tax irregularities between 2014 and 2017 after a business dispute led to severe financial losses for Lin's factory. Despite objections from her family due to her age and health concerns, He studied criminal law and procedure independently and attended court daily to prepare for her son's defense. During a July 30 hearing at Zhoushan Municipal Intermediate Court in Zhejiang province, He became emotional watching her son enter in handcuffs and later felt unwell, refusing medical advice to leave the courtroom. Lin has also retained a professional lawyer to assist in the defense, and the trial is ongoing. Her determination highlights a remarkable act of maternal devotion amid a complex legal battle.