THE 80-YEAR-OLD PASSENGER who threw a handful of coins at one of the engines of a plane she was boarding in Shanghai, because she believed it would bring good luck and ensure a safe flight, had her punishment of five days administrative detention remitted because of her age. Thepaper.cn comments:

The decision sparked heated discussion. Many people said the woman should be punished because of the potentially serious consequences of her behavior and to deter others from doing anything similarly foolish.

But in their investigation of the case, the Shanghai police have not abused their power and they made the decision to release the woman according to the law.