Liu Junhai (L) holds a court order about compensation. [Photo/yzdsb.com.cn]

Two men will be compensated 1.18 million yuan (172,752 U.S. dollars) after being wrongfully detained for nearly 15 years in north China's Hebei Province, a local court said.

Liu Yintang and Liu Junhai, uncle and nephew, were detained in a detention center in Linzhang County between 1988 and 2003 on suspicion of starting a fire that killed four people. They were released in April 2003 when the Intermediary People's Court of Handan City acquitted them of the crime.

Liu Junhai will receive 575,292 yuan and Liu Yintang 609,785 yuan from the Linzhang County Procuratorate, equivalent to 111.99 yuan for each day they spent in jail. The compensation is based on the average daily wage of a Chinese worker in 2008, according to the statement from the Handan court.

Liu Junhai said they were pleased by the court's decision but want more compensation for their loss of freedom and mental anguish.

They were told of the court ruling Wednesday.

A county procuratorate spokesman said no police or procurators have been penalized for the two men's wrongful and prolonged detention.