A former official in northwest China who served seven years in prison for rape may finally see a chance to clear his name after the victim confessed she lied about the crime.

Pei Shutang, 66, got the chance to appeal his case on Wednesday after Liu Huifang, a former actress who claimed he raped her in 1986, said she actually had been threatened by a rival colleague of Pei to frame him.

Pei worked in the culture department in Wuwei City, Gansu Province, and was Liu's mentor, the Lanzhou Morning Post reported.

Liu sued Pei in 1986 for raping her during a private singing lesson. Wuwei People's Court found him guilty and sentenced him to seven years in jail. Pei appealed but Gansu Higher People's Court upheld the verdict, although Pei's lawyer Yin Ping maintained there was no evidence.

The saga took a dramatic turn in 2000 when Pei received a letter from Liu, saying she suffered a guilty conscience and wanted to reveal the truth. She said a leader in the culture department surnamed Tang urged her to frame Pei and forced her to copy a statement he wrote.

Pei said he didn't hate Liu and thought she was a great woman for daring to speak out after so many years.

Tang did not appear on Wednesday. Nor did the court hand down a ruling.