Li Yang, founder of the Crazy English education company, has lodged a legal challenge to his divorce settlement, accusing his ex-wife of domestic abuse.

The appeal was submitted to the Chaoyang District People's Court in Beijing on Monday prior to the expiration of his appeal period on Tuesday.

Disagreeing with the domestic abuse charge and with the compensation awarded his ex-wife by judges at the beginning of February, he also asked for custody of the couple's three daughters and hoped the higher court would distribute the properties in line with the law.