(Ecns.cn)--Ye Juan (alias) shed tears of happiness Wednesday at a court in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, when the jewelry she had stolen was valued at 89,000 yuan ($13,914) rather than 680,000 ($106,308)--the difference between 12 years in jail and a life sentence.
Ye burst into tears and repeatedly said "thank you" between sobs after hearing the judge's ruling.
According to related laws, Ye could have been given a life sentence if the items she had stolen were worth hundreds of thousands of yuan.
Ye stole the jewelry from a jade shop on March 18, including a jade bracelet, a pendant and a ring. She was arrested on May 24 while sleeping at home, wearing all the treasures.
The six pieces sold for 680,000 yuan at the shop. However, the shop owner had only paid 45,000 yuan ($7,035) for them, less than 10% of the selling price.
