Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor:  Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

Video Credit: AsiaWire

A judge has been suspending and his job is now on the line after he was caught nodding off during a live stream of a recent public hearing.

The judge serving Yongzhou Intermediate People’s Court in Central China’s Hunan Province was one of three officials assigned to settle a business dispute when the gaffe happened on 1st November.

Viewers on the website tingshen.court.gov.cn, which has been live streaming court proceedings since 2016, spotted the judge, surnamed Song, appearing to be on the verge of sleeping during the morning session.

Footage of the stream, which has since been removed from the website, Song is seen barely able to keep his eyes open and rubbing them with his hand.

At one point he leans back against his chair and appears to fall asleep, the video shows.

Members of the public who watched the stream, sent a complaint to the court soon after.

In a statement on 11th November, the court said the disgraced judge had been suspended pending an internal review.

He has been ordered to undergo “deep self-reflection”, and will be punished according to the court’s code of conduct, the statement said.

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