The Washington Post has more on the release of journalist Yu Huafeng:
Yu Huafeng, general manager and deputy editor of the Southern Metropolis Daily in the southern city of Guangzhou, walked out of prison in the Guangzhou suburbs early Friday in good health and good spirits, his colleagues at the newspaper said Saturday. He made no public statements, but his family said he was celebrating the Chinese New Year…
When asked about such cases, the Chinese government has repeatedly said they are handled strictly according to the law. In fact, Chinese lawyers have explained, China’s courts are under the control of the Communist Party and judges routinely take guidance from party officials on sensitive cases.
See also “Released: Yu Huafeng of the Southern Metropolis News” from Shanghaiist, which points to a Caijing article about his release (in Chinese).