Chinese death in custody raises family and public fears of police brutality
Family find bruises on the body of the detainee who police said died of a heart attack
The mysterious death of a 29-year-old Beijing man in police custody on Saturday evening has sparked public outrage amid suspicion of torture and abuse of power.
The family of Lei Yang, a resident of Beijing’s Changping district, were told early Sunday morning that he died after having a heart attack in police custody, The Beijing News reported.
Lei was reportedly detained for allegedly soliciting a prostitute in a foot massage parlour.
According to medical records, Lei was admitted to a local hospital at about 10.09 pm. Witnesses at the hospital told The Beijing News that Lei was brought into the medical facility unconscious with blood oozing from his mouth and his hands cuffed.
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Mainland news portal Caixin, cited witnesses as saying that Lei had been chased by plain-clothes officers and fought with them at the scene of the arrest. A CCTV camera in the area was not working.
The Beijing News quoted a police source as saying that Lei, the father of a baby girl, appeared emotional as he was arrested on his wedding anniversary.
The family disputed the police account, saying they found bruises in Lei’s arms and forehead and were not allowed to take photographs of his body. Police said the injuries occurred when Lei tried to flee custody.
The police plan to carry out an autopsy today and tomorrow.
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The family said Lei was at home that night until he went to the airport at his father-in-law’s request to pick up a relative at about 9pm. He could not be contacted after he left home.
Lei’s death ignited nationwide debate about alleged police brutality and a lack of transparency.
Lawyer Fang Ligang from Shaanxi province said there could not be justice as long as “the perpetrator and the adjudicator is one and the same”.
“How come we never question our system when it fails to deliver the truth?” Fang said.
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