(XINHUA)

Internet rumormonger Qin Zhihui, known by the handle Qinhuohuo online, was sentenced to two years on defamation charges and a further year for disturbing the peace.

Qin was found guilty of spreading rumors about several celebrities as well as the former Ministry of Railways, via Sina Weibo, China's Twitter-like microblogging platform, from 2012 to 2013. He is the first person to appear in court on rumor mongering charges.