Police Officer in Shanghai: “Whatever I Say Is Law”

Name: Chen Lei (陈蕾)
Gender: Female
Age: 36
Address: No. 10 Village, Baoshan, Shanghai
Occupation: Accountant
Date of Most Recent Arrest: January 20, 2006
Most Recent Place of Detention: Hangzhou City Detention Center (杭州市看守所)
City: Shanghai
Persecution Suffered: Illegal sentencing, imprisonment, solitary confinement, torture, fired from workplace, home ransacked, interrogation, detention

(Minghui.org) On March 24, 2007, more than ten officers from the Domestic Security Division, in the Baoshai District of Shanghai, ransacked Ms. Chen Lei's home. The officers confiscated her computer and books. At that time, the director of the Domestic Security Division said, “Whatever I say is law,” and threatened to arrest her. For five years, her family members asked for the return of her personal property but in vain. She is now blind as a result of persecution.

Ms. Chen Lei, born in 1976, graduated from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics with a major in international accounting. She has a dual certification of ACCA both in China and in the United Kingdom. She has worked for multiple foreign investment enterprises as an auditor.

After the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began suppressing Falun Gong in July 1999, Ms. Chen lost her job multiple times as a result of the persecution. She and her mother, Ms. Zhou Zhongbi, were arrested in Hangzhou on January 20, 2006, when chief Lou Quanwu and police officer Han Bin from the Shangcheng District Domestic Security Division in Hangzhou City and officers from the Xiaoying Street Police Station entered the place they rented with the excuse of checking residential IDs. She was tried in the Shangcheng District Court in Hangzhou and sentenced to four years in prison (Hu Qing, procurator, Zhou Ying and Fang Li, judges). When she was held in the Hangzhou City Detention Center, she developed a severe illness and could not be cured. In critical condition, she developed a severe hemorrhage in the fundus (interior surface) part of her eye. After she was released, she was completely blind.

On March 24, 2007, while her mother was still being held in Zhejiang Province Women's Prison, her home was again ransacked by over ten officers from the Domestic Security Division of Baoshan District Police Department.

That was a Saturday afternoon. The chief of the Domestic Security Division, officers from the Shuangcheng Street Police Station, and others who claimed to be agents of the neighborhood administration committee ransacked her home and confiscated her property. At that time, she had not completely lost her eyesight yet and was out teaching. The officers arrived when she was out and only her father, in his 70s, was at home, when the 10 or so officers ransacked her home. When she returned, she saw a few strangers watching her. When she entered her home, at least six people were sitting there waiting for her. Her computer was confiscated. Her father was so scared that he stayed under the blanket and did not dare to go out.

A “Chief Gu” patted the table and threatened, “What is the law? Whatever I say is law.” Others involved included Lu Yang, Zhang Tong, and officers from the Shuangcheng Street Police Station. They confiscated over 20 Dafa books, five hand-copied books, a computer, DVD burner, portable hard drive, and DVD. She asked them to return her property. Gu threatened that they would also arrest her. Pointing out that Ms. Chen was out on bail for medical treatment, he threatened that he could take her to the prison at any time.

The Chinese Communist Party persecuted a talented lady, who is now blind and will never be able to take care of herself. Ms. Chen and her family went to the authorities to ask for a resolution but received no answer.

In addition, she was monitored and followed frequently. For example:

-During the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, she went to the eye hospital for treatment and was not at home. Zhang Tong, a police officer, pretended to be her uncle. Using Ms. Chen's personal information, they looked for her through telephone calls among her relatives and friends. They also watched and followed her family members. After she returned from the hospital, she was also monitored by agents for several months.

-When the 2010 World Expo was held, officers stayed in front of her home watching for over half a year. Her sister came back from Canada to visit, the whole family went out to visit friends and relatives. Each time, several officers followed them. When the family called a taxi, the officers got into the taxi first because they did not want to lose their target. Her relatives said that the officers behaved very poorly and did not even care about their reputations.

-In the summer of 2011, multiple monitors were installed in many communities in Baoshan. In August, one of Ms. Chen's friends came to visit. Later, her friend said, “The day after my visit, neighborhood committee members told me that they knew when I went to Ms. Chen's home. I know the monitor even records time.” Frightened by this, the friend does not dare to visit anymore.

This has all taken place since Ms. Chen completely lost her eyesight. How can the CCP spend so much money and waste so much manpower on mistreating a blind woman? What a disaster for China.

Agencies and individuals involved in the persecution of Ms. Chen:
Appeals Office, Baoshan Police: [phone]
Zhang Tong, a police officer: [phone] (Cell)
Zhu Ying, a police officer: [phone] (Cell)
Hangzhou City Detention Center: [phone]
Lou Quanwu, chief of the Domestic Security Division, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou City: [phone], [phone]