Poster of Manzhouli People's Court Photo: nandu.com

A people's court in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has caused controversy online with a public service billboard that netizens suggest references prison rape as a warning to citizens not to break the law.

The poster, located in a Manzhouli residence compound, reads "Manzhouli People's Court reminds all citizens to comply with the law, otherwise..." and displays two images of chrysanthemums - one fully bloomed and the other almost wilted - with respective captions reading "before prison" and "after prison".

Though the billboard first appeared online in August 2010 it recently went viral after Web users pointed out the rape reference; "to explode the chrysanthemum" is a popular slang expression for anal sex. 

However, the designer of the poster explains the two flowers were meant for a completely different metaphor.

"Those who observe the law are like a budding flower which will thrive and flourish, while those against laws will end up perishing," the Guangzhou-based southcn.com quoted the yet-unnamed designer as saying on July 16.

The poster triggered heated discussions and comments from Web users, with most praising the poster as "bold and creative" with "profound connotations," according to the website.