Chinese film star fined for fraud

Liu starred in many Chinese films in the 1980s

One of China's best-known film stars has reportedly been fined for tax evasion.

State media said the actress, Liu Xiaoqing, was being forced to sell personal possessions to pay the fine of nearly $700,000, as well as outstanding tax.

She was convicted of failing to pay more than $1m in taxes.

Correspondents say the Chinese authorities have embarked on a campaign to crack down on alleged corruption among some of the country's most prominent businessmen and women this year.

Fall from grace

Liu Xiaoqing, an award-winning performer who starred in many Chinese films throughout the 1980s, was arrested in Beijing in June.

She was charged with tax evasion in connection with her company, the Beijing Xiaoqing Culture and Arts Company Ltd.

Xinhua state news agency said at the time of her arrest that the company had "under-listed its income, over-listed costs, made false reports and evaded a large amount of tax".

She has been held in a political prison since her detention. State media did not say whether she would be cleared after she paid the fine.

Liu, who twice won the Baihua Best Actress award, has appeared in such classics as Hibiscus Town, Little Flowers, Cixi's Eunuch, Li Lianying and Ruling From Behind the Screen.

She gave up acting in the 1990s to become a businesswoman.

Liu has in recent years been at the centre of China's tabloid press while becoming associated with a series of scandals involving business and real estate.