A man in Shiyan in central China's Hubei Province has filed a lawsuit against local police for forcing him into enter a mental hospital after he took photographs of petitioners in April, the "Southern Daily Metropolis" reports.
Peng Baoquan told the newspaper yesterday that he was suing local police for forcibly taking him to a mental hospital after he took the photos on April 9. He also said he had demanded a public apology to restore his reputation. The court has accepted the case and will hold a hearing in a few days.
After succumbing to pressure from the media, the local police allowed Peng to leave the hospital. Medical specialists at Beijing Anding Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University confirmed on April 22 that Peng was mentally healthy.
Peng said in the indictment that the police forcibly sent him to the metal hospital without his consent and did not notify his family beforehand. During his five days in the hospital, he was forced to take psychotropic drugs that caused abnormal blood pressure, liver enlargement, limb weakness and psychological harm.
After he was released, Peng demanded a public apology, but was given no financial compensation.
Local police stated in the appellate brief that they had a right to detain Peng not only for taking the photos of the pensioners, but also for participating in the petition. They said during their investigation, they believed Peng suffered from paranoia, so they sent him to a mental hospital. |
