The story of Sun

Sun was quoted by the Southern Metropolis Daily as saying that she and two villagers did not get any food or sleep in the first two days, and were only given half a bowl of porridge on the third day. About 10 guards watched them and beat them when they did not "follow orders."

According to the report, Sun said they were asked to slap each other with their slippers, press their faces against the wall all night and hold a basin of water at arm's length while standing with their knees bent. Sun also claims to have been sexually harassed by two men.

Sun agreed to let her relatives sign the demolition agreement on the 12th day. According to her, guards threatened her with "needle penalties" if she refused to sign, without elaborating.

Before her release, two people who claimed to be from the public security bureau and petition office bureau asked Sun whether she had been beaten in the yard and whether she had "learned anything." Sun answered "no" to the first question and "yes" to the second, the report said. Sun refused to write a "letter of self-criticism" but did put her fingerprint on a prepared letter.

Black jail crackdown

Qu Xinjiu, a law professor at the China University of Political Science and Law, said that the yard in Sihong violates Article 37 of China's Constitution: No citizen may be arrested except with the approval or by decision of a people's procuratorate or by decision of a people's court, and arrests must be made by a public security organ. Unlawful deprivation or restriction of citizens' freedom of person by detention or other means is prohibited; and unlawful search of the person of citizens is prohibited.

However, it is by no means the first illegal jail on the Chinese mainland.