Hong Kong ( CNN ) -- A Beijing court sentenced Li Tianyi , the son of a famous Chinese `` singing general '' in the People 's Liberation Army , to 10 years in jail on Thursday over a gang rape that unleashed public outrage at the behavior of China 's `` princelings , '' or children of the political elite . The Haidian People 's Court sentenced Li , 17 , and four other defendants to jail terms ranging from three to 12 years over the gang rape of a woman in a hotel room in February . Li , also known as Li Guanfeng , denied the charges , telling the court he was drunk and could recall little of the night in question . He denied beating or having sex with the woman despite his four co-accused issuing guilty pleas by the trial 's end , state media reported . Lawyers for the accused argued in pre-trial hearings that the woman was a prostitute , and the matter should be tried as a prostitution matter , rather than a rape case . In handing down the verdict , the court said the evidence was `` adequate '' to uphold the rape charges . Users on Chinese social media applauded the verdict , hailing it as a victory of justice over the infamous `` taizidang , '' or `` princelings , '' who are widely regarded as spoiled and corrupt . `` The bastard is finally charged . God finally works , '' wrote a user called @ Jiaxinglantianxiadezhiai on the popular Chinese micro-blogging service Sina Weibo . However , others doubted that he would serve out his full sentence . `` After people stop closely watching this case , he will get out of jail immediately . It 's always easy as long as you have money , '' posted one user called @ Miya-Qiu . Li -- the son of a PLA celebrity officer known as the `` singing general '' for his televised renditions of patriotic anthems -- previously made headlines in 2011 when he attacked a family in a road rage incident , threatened bystanders and dared them to call police . The incident provoked an outcry when it came to light that he had 36 prior traffic violations for driving without a license . He was subsequently sent to a juvenile detention center for a year , and his father issued a public apology . Li 's mother Meng Ge , who is also a celebrity singer in the PLA , also came under under fire on social media after she blamed society for her son 's behavior . Public opinion has been mounting against the so-called princelings since an incident in 2010 , when the drunk-driving 22-year-old son of a deputy provincial police chief fatally ran over a student and shouted : `` Sue me if you dare ! My father is Li Gang ! '' The phrase has since become synonymous with nepotism and corruption in China . President Xi Jinping has launched a high-profile anti-corruption campaign in response to public discontent with corrupt officials , publicly rebuking PLA musicians following a series of embarrassing reports detailing their privileged lifestyles and exposing incidents of commercial exploitation of their positions . The dressing down was accompanied by new measures , signed off by Xi and detailed in the PLA Daily , the official organ of China 's armed forces , designed to curb the excesses of military musical troupes . Xi 's wife , the noted soprano Peng Liyuan , herself served in a PLA performance troupe . CNN 's Feng Ke contributed to this report .
Li Tianyi , 17 , sentenced to 10 years in high-profile gang rape case . His four co-defendants received sentences ranging from 3 to 12 years . The son of a People 's Liberation Army ( PLA ) celebrity known as the `` singing general '' Case unleashed public outrage at behavior of China 's `` princelings ''