Mr. Li He, a retired veteran, was arrested again in June 2008, prior to the Beijing Olympics Games. He was tortured to near death in the prison, and died at home on June 27, 2009, shortly after he was released to home.

Mr. Li He Dies from Torture at Jidong Prison

Mr. Li He from Zhuolu County, Hebei Province was tortured to near death at Jidong Prison in Tangshan City. He passed away on June 27, 2009. Since the persecution began in July 1999, Mr. Li He has been arrested, sentenced and tortured on different occasions.

Mr. Li He, 59 years old, lived in Taifu Village, Zhuolu County. He served in the army as a driver for over ten years. After he was retired, he had many physical illnesses. With no benefits, he lived a difficult life with poor health. Mr. Li began practicing Falun Gong in 1996 and his health dramatically improved.

In March 2000, Mr. Li He was detained at Zhuolu County Detention Center because he refused to give up his belief in Falun Gong's teachings of Truth-Compassion-Forbearance. After the police extorted 10,000 yuan from his family, he was released forty days later.

On June 8, 2008, prior to the Beijing Olympics Games, he was once again arrested by the county's 610 Office agents Li Zhiming, Zhao Xuan, and Ban Zhiyong, and villagers Li Qingyi and Xie Zhenghua. He was detained at Zhuolu Detention Center for over four months. Afterwards, he was secretly sentenced to two years and was taken to Jidong Prison located in Nanpu District, Tangshan City. At the prison, he was tortured to near death.

To avoid responsibility for Mr. Li's extremely weakened physical state, the prison notified the 610 Office to pick up him, but the 610 Office refused. Because the prison did not want to be held accountable for his death, Mr. Li was sent directly home.

After Mr. Li He returned home in critical condition, the local 610 Office ordered people to monitor and pressure him. On June 27, 2009, not long after Mr. Li returned home, he passed away.