Huawei under fire in China over employee detained for eight months

Company facing scrutiny over treatment of Li Hongyuan, who had demanded severance pay

The Chinese telecom corporation Huawei has come under fire in its own country as members of the public rallied behind a former employee detained for eight months after demanding severance pay from the company.

Last January, Li Hongyuan, a Huawei employee of 13 years, was arrested on extortion charges and detained until August, when he was released because of "unclear criminal facts and insufficient evidence", according to court documents posted online by Li.