Chinese journalist Shi Tao released after 8 years in prison By Jessica King, CNN September 8, 2013 -- Updated 0733 GMT (1533 HKT) The president of the World Editor Forum reads the Golden Pen for Freedom award motivation, June 4, 2007, for Shi Tao. Shi Tao was sentenced to 10 years for leaking government restrictions on reporting The restrictions were over the 15th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre Yahoo was criticized for giving China information about Shi that was used in his conviction A Yahoo attorney has said its employees in China were abiding by the law (CNN) -- A Chinese journalist jailed for eight years for leaking government restrictions on reporting is now free. Shi Tao's early release was announced by the writers' organization PEN International on Saturday -- 15 months before he was scheduled to be freed. Shi is a member of Independent Chinese PEN Center, which advocates for freedom of speech. Shi made headlines in 2004 when he sent the media restrictions to a human rights group -- an act that China said amounted to "leaking state secrets," PEN said. What's more: Internet giant Yahoo played a part in his conviction. In a widely criticized move, Yahoo handed over Shi's e-mail account information, which the Chinese government used in the case against Shi, according to court documents. The reporting restrictions were over the coverage of the 15th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, in which hundreds pro-democracy protestors were killed in a government crackdown. Chinese soldiers followed orders to open fire on unnarmed civilians. Yahoo! Inc. CEO Jerry Yang testifies before the House Foreign Affairs Committee November 6, 2007. Official Chinese government figures said the death toll was 241, including soldiers, with 7,000 injured. Rights groups have said the number of dead was likely to be in the thousands. Early release Shi was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2005. It's not clear why he was let go early. The U.S. Congress led a probe into the case after his conviction. Yahoo lawyers defended the move to hand over information, saying not doing so would have jeopardized the company's own employees. "I cannot ask our local employees (in China) to resist lawful demands and put their own freedom at risk, even if, in my personal view, the local laws are overboard," attorney Michael Callahan said in 2007. Gao Qin Sheng, Shi Tao's mother cries during the U.S. hearing in Washington, November 6 , 2007. Yahoo settled with Shi's family for an undisclosed amount. But the late Rep. Tom Lantos had harsh words for the company. "It took a tongue-lashing from Congress before these high-tech titans did the right thing and coughed up some concrete assistance for the family of a journalist whom Yahoo had helped send to jail," Lantos said at the time. After his release, Shi told PEN that he was treated relatively well in prison. The release was not covered by Chinese state media. A Chinese journalist jailed for eight years for leaking government restrictions on reporting is now free. September 5, 2013 -- Updated 1715 GMT (0115 HKT) After the thousands of dead pigs, come the tons of poisoned fish. September 6, 2013 -- Updated 0659 GMT (1459 HKT) Prosecutors in eastern China have charged six Communist Party investigators who allegedly drowned a local official during interrogation with intentional assault, the victim's family told CNN. September 4, 2013 -- Updated 1353 GMT (2153 HKT) China's President Xi Jinping will have plenty to discuss with his Russian host and counterpart Vladimir Putin when they meet on the sidelines of the G-20 leaders' summit. Presenting mooncakes to relatives and associates may be a part of China's Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, but a new law aims to dampen the spirit of mooncake giving.