Ma Xiaohai (Chinese: 马尧海) is a former computer science professor[1] at Nanjing Tech University arrested in 2009 for organising wife-swapping events.[2] He was sentenced to 3.5 years in jail,[1] "a more severe punishment because he did not admit the malicious and illegal nature of his conduct," according to the court.[1] His arrest and prosecution became the topic of discussion around sexual freedom in China.[3]

Background

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Ma graduated from Zhejiang University in 1978 and was admitted to a master's degree program at Harbin Institute of Technology in 1986. In November 1994 he transferred to Nanjing Tech University.[4]

Ma was divorced twice before he started participating in partner-swapping.

At the time of the prosecution, Ma was 53 years old and working as a professor of computer science at Nanjing Tech University.

Swinging and prosecution

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Ma first experimented with swinging in 2004.

He started an online chatroom called “Independent Travel for Husbands, Wives and Lovers” in 2007.[5]

In the alleged "swingers trial" in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, he was the only one among 21 defendants to have pleaded "not guilty" to accusations of "group licentiousness" (聚众淫乱罪).[2] The activities took place from 2007, and from September 2009 he was under police surveillance.

Ma was defended online by renowned Chinese sexologist Li Yinhe.[6]

Because of the prosecution, Ma resigned from his position at Nanjing Technical University.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Zhen, Liu (May 21, 2010). "Jailed professor says orgies disturbed no one". Reuters. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
  2. ^ a b Taggart, Alex (12 April 2010). "Li Yinhe: In Defence of Professor Ma Xiaohai". ChinaGeeks. Archived from the original on 30 August 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  3. ^ "College professor at center of orgy case in China that tests limits of sexual freedom, privacy". Fox News. Associated Press. 18 May 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  4. ^ "副教授组织换妻22人被诉 聚众淫乱罪存废引争论". 长江网. 24 March 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  5. ^ a b Wong, Edward (20 May 2010). "18 Orgies Later, Chinese Swinger Gets Prison Bed". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  6. ^ 取消聚众淫乱罪会败坏社会风气吗? (Would Repealing Group Licentiousness Law Ruin the Atmosphere of Society?)
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