Xu Fang/ Shanghai Daily news

An elaborate plot to extract money by promising school admissions has ended in a prison sentence for three men.

The Jing'an District People's Court sentenced Zhu Qi, Wang Jianming and Gao Yongbao to one year in prison and a fine of 2,000 yuan (US$293) each for cheating the complainant, surnamed Ge, out of 10,000 yuan. The men had promised to get Ge's daughter admitted to a prestigious school in the city, even though they had no such connections.

Around mid-June, Zhu learned that Ge wanted to transfer his daughter to the well-known Yucai Middle School in Jing'an District.

Zhu then met with his colleague Wang. They asked another friend, Gao, to pretend to be the school's dean and win Ge's trust.

Zhu then introduced Wang to Ge, telling him that Wang could help him find a high-ranking school official.

The men then pretended to arrange an appointment with the "dean" and asked Ge to bring 10,000 yuan as a bribe.