Billiards champion acquitted in fraud case

China’s first female billiards world champion Pan Xiaoting was acquitted of any part in a fraud case, Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court said on Tuesday.

The 38-year-old, nicknamed China’s 9-Ball Queen, endorsed the financial products of Zhongjin companies in 2014. They were involved in a 40-billion-yuan (US$5.8 billion) Ponzi scheme. In 2016, Zhongjin’s crimes came to light and many investors said they had invested because of Pan.

One of the victims, surnamed Zhao, sued Pan and claimed 200,000 yuan compensation for his economic loss.

Pan said she had checked the certificates, tax affairs and brands before her endorsement and hadn’t realized the companies had committed a crime.

She added that some of the words in the ads were not what she said, but added in editing.

She refunded all related endorsement fees to the police in 2016.

The court said there was no evidence to show that Pan knew that the financial products were illegal and related to the fraud.

Under the law, only when the advertising spokesperson knows or should have known that the advertisement was false, does he or she bear joint and several liability with the advertisers.