Chinese name:
于怀才
Gender:
Male
Age:
42
City:
Harbin City
Province:
Heilongjiang
Occupation:
Date of Death:
2007-04-22
Date of Most Recent Arrest:
2006-11-25
Most recent place of detention:
Changlinzi Forced Labor Camp in Harbin City
Case Description:

Mr. Yu Huaicai, 42, lived in the Hulan District, Harbin City. He was arrested in public on November 15, 2006 and taken to the former Hulan District Detention Center and was released on November 25, 2006. Then he returned to the Hulan District National Security Division to ask for the return of his money and personal belongings. The officials arrested him again and held him at a detention center. Mr. Yu went on a hunger strike and was taken to Harbin City Police Hospital more than 20 days later. He was transferred to the Hulan District Chinese Medicine Hospital after January 1, 2007. Eight days later his family went to the hospital, and saw him lying in a bed with his feet shackled. His feet and ankles were swollen and severely bruised. He was emaciated. His family had been forbidden to see him before then and were not given any information on his condition. According to a nurse, his condition even in this state was much better than when he was first brought to the hospital. He was taken to Changlinzi Forced Labor Camp the next day.

Yu Huaicai's mother visited him at the labor camp on January 25, 2007. He said to her, "Just bring me a few clothes; don't come here again." The labor camp officials called Yu Huaicai's family on February 25, 2008, and told them that he was in critical condition and was being treated at the 2nd Hospital Affiliated with Harbin Medical University. Mr. Yu Huaicai said again to his family when he saw them, "Don't come here again." The family saw Mr. Yu Huaicai at the labor camp for the last time four days prior to his death. He stared at his family with an open mouth. He moved his tongue but could not make any sound. He was handcuffed. They eventually took off Mr. Yu's handcuffs at the family's request. Yu Huaicai's eyes were bulging out. He grasped his shirt in front of his chest and repeatedly slapped his hands against the wall. He appeared to be in great agony. His family suspects that camp personnel injected him with drugs that affected his ability to speak. He died on April 22, 2007. Mr. Yu was six feed tall, nearly 300 pounds normally, and very healthy and strong. But when he died of torture, he lost more than 100 pounds.