(Minghui.org) A police officer in Shandong Province is treating Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Chai Diyun like a hostage, hoping to score a huge "ransom."

Officer Mi Guangliang, who is with the Zhonggong Police Station in the Licheng District of Jinan City, Shandong Province, is attempting to extort money from Ms. Chai Diyun's family, stating, “I need 5 million yuan (over $800,000 USD) for her release, and not a penny less.” He also demanded a down payment of 1 million yuan, 20% of the total.

Mi insisted that releasing Ms. Chai without the 5 million-yuan payment would simply be impossible: “This price [5 million] is just for her. For other, more influential [Falun Gong practitioners], the price may very well be double.”

Mi claimed that he would decide whether Ms. Chai lived or died: “She will be released if I sign a form. She'll be imprisoned if I don't say a thing.” He even gave Ms. Chai's relatives a bank account number over the phone and told them to deposit the money to the account. It was confirmed that the bank account was registered under the name of Mi Xianfeng.

Ms. Chai's family doubted that they would be able to borrow enough money for the 1 million-yuan ($162,490 USD) down payment, but Mi warned, “Life is more valuable than money. If you want to save her, you will come up with the money no matter what.”

According to Mi, more than 100 people have since called him, urging him to release Ms. Chai.

However, he is refusing to listen. “I cannot release her unconditionally. It is impossible,” he said, acknowledging the corruption within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). “I have my expenses, too. You know how the CCP is these days.”

Ms. Chai was arrested on January 18, 2014, and is now being held in the Jinan Detention Center.