Chu Shijian (left) cuts redundant branches from an orange tree at an orchard in Xinping county, Yuxi city of Southwest China's Yunnan province on Feb 21, 2009. [Photo/IC]

A Chinese NGO is sharing the story of an entrepreneurial ex-convict with inmates at 681 prisons around the country in the hopes that it will help them turn their lives around.

Wang Jie, founder of the Beijing-based China Ex-Convict Aid, said on Wednesday that his organization would distribute 70,000 books profiling 88-year-old Chu Shijian, who was once known as the country's "tobacco king".

Born in Yuxi, Yunnan province, Chu became director of the near-bankrupt Yuxi Tobacco Company at the age of 51. Under his leadership, it became China's most profitable State-owned tobacco company during the 1980s and 1990s, the Hongta Tobacco Group.

Once widely respected, his fall from grace came in early 1999, after being arrested on charges of corruption and sentenced to life in prison, which was later commuted to 17 years.

Released on medical parole in 2002 at the age of 74, Chu built an orange orchard with his wife, Ma Jinfen, that has since grown into a flourishing business employing hundreds of farmers and covering more than 5,000 hectares.

"I hope prisoners, especially those nearing the end of their sentences, find the confidence and courage to return to society after reading the book," said Wang.

"Chu's story is a good example for them, and I believe his experience will encourage more inmates to get their lives back on track and find a job after they leave prison.”

China Ex-Convict Aid was established in 2008 and to date has helped more than 4,000 former inmates find work upon their release.

Wang said it was important for ex-convicts to be reintegrated into society as it "can make their families stable and in harmony" and reduce the chances of former inmates going back to a life of crime.

By Cao Yin (chinadaily.com.cn)