LI Yang, the founder of the "Crazy English," has been ordered to pay his American wife Kim Lee more than 12 million yuan (US$1.9 million) in a divorce granted because of his domestic abuse.
In addition, Lee was granted custody of their three daughters, now aged 10, 6 and 4, and their father must pay child support of 100,000 yuan a year for each until they reach the age of 18.
Beijing Chaoyang District People's Court also ruled yesterday that Li should pay 50,000 yuan to Lee for psychological trauma and agreed to Lee's request for a three-month restraining order against him.
The court ruled that Li could keep property registered in his name, and the stock rights and registered trademark of his language teaching company, while he should pay Lee a one-off sum of 12 million yuan in consideration of the property the couple shared.
On hearing the verdict, Lee broke down and burst into tears, China News Service said. But she soon regained her composure to tell reporters that Chinese women must defend their rights.
In 2011, Lee, who filed for the divorce, uploaded pictures showing injuries, including a bleeding left ear, swollen forehead and bruised knees, she said had been caused by her husband.
She became something of a folk hero for China's battered wives after she went online to accuse Li of beating her on several occasions. A week after the online revelations, Li was forced to make a public apology.
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