Outspoken Chinese billionaire Sun Dawu sentenced to 18 years in prison for "provoking trouble"

Prominent Chinese billionaire Sun Dawu has been sentenced to 18 years in prison and fined nearly $500,000 after being found guilty of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" in China, a charge frequently used against activists and dissidents, BBC News reported.

The 67-year-old pig farming magnate was reportedly detained alongside 20 of his family members and business associates over a dispute with a government-run farm. He is one of a number of high-profile corporate bosses who have been targeted by the Chinese government, the BBC said. Sun has spoken out about politically sensitive topics and has supported prominent human rights lawyers and dissidents by paying their legal costs, the activists group Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) said.