Police had detained Liu Hui in January on suspicion of committing fraud in connection with a real-estate deal. Attorney Mo Shaoping told AFP that Liu Hui was sentenced at a court in Beijing.[break]
"The sentence is based on insufficient evidence and is completely unjust," Mo said, adding that Liu would appeal.
Liu Hui is the brother-in-law of Chinese political activist Liu Xiaobo, who was jailed for 11 years in 2009 for "subversion" after he circulated a charter calling for democratic reforms. Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010.
The Nobel winner´s wife, Liu Xia, attended the trial Sunday, Mo said. She left home in April after years under house arrest to attend her brother´s opening trial session.
"Liu Xia is very outraged by the sentence and thinks it´s completely political persecution," Mo said.
An official who answered the phone at the court could not immediately confirm the sentence.
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