The phrase “witness of a former Chinese criminal defense lawyer” carries a weight of truth that is both sobering and necessary. Li Jinxing, known by his pen name Wu Lei, spent years traversing the shadowy corridors of China’s detention centers and prisons. Through his eyes, we are given a rare and unfiltered look at the darkness that pervades a system often touted as just and great.
The suffocating despair in these places is palpable, threatening to extinguish the very soul of those within. The stories Wu Lei shares—some thrilling, others horrific—paint a vivid portrait of the death of justice in China. Recently, he began sharing these experiences on the overseas social platform X, under the series “Detention Centers and Prison Records,” exposing the hidden suffering that is rarely seen by the outside world.
The cost of truth: Witness of a former Chinese criminal defense lawyer
Wu Lei’s journey as a Chinese criminal defense lawyer was abruptly halted when his license was revoked in mainland China. His crime? Defending sensitive cases and daring to expose the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s judicial injustices. This act of courage cost him his career as a human rights lawyer.
Forced into exile, Wu Lei now resides in Tokyo, Japan, where he continues his mission as an independent commentator and writer. Through social media and public lectures, he shines a light on the dark realities of China’s judicial system, refusing to let the voices of the oppressed be silenced.
Entrepreneur’s request for pickled vegetables reveals the deprivation of dignity
One of Wu Lei’s most memorable cases took place in 2012, in a small county town in Shanxi. He was called to defend a private entrepreneur, a man of considerable wealth—over 100 million yuan—who had been framed and imprisoned after offending the cronies of the local public security chief. During their meeting, the entrepreneur’s voice was hollow, his spirit broken: “The gift I gave was too little, they wanted more, and I paid the price.” The physical abuse he suffered in the detention center was evident in the bruises on his face, but the deeper wound was the betrayal by a system he once trusted.
What struck Wu Lei most was a simple, almost childlike request: “Can you buy me some pickled vegetables?” The entrepreneur explained that the food in the detention center was devoid of salt, leaving his body weak and his dignity stripped away. This small request became a symbol of the deprivation and humiliation inflicted upon detainees. Wu Lei was unable to fulfill the request, as food was not allowed in the prison, but the plea haunted him. It was a stark reminder of how the system grinds people down, forcing them into desperate situations where even the most basic needs become unattainable luxuries.
From deprivation to despair: The story of Chen Man’s wrongful imprisonment
The theme of deprivation transitions seamlessly into the story of Chen Man, a Sichuanese man whom Wu Lei met in Hainan Meilan Prison in the early 2010s. Chen Man had already served 20 years for a crime he did not commit—falsely accused of arson, tortured, and coerced into a confession. Wu Lei, after reviewing the case files, was convinced of Chen Man’s innocence. Yet, what puzzled him was Chen Man’s calm demeanor, so unlike that of a man who had suffered such a grave injustice.
During a two-hour conversation in the prison courtyard, Chen Man’s composure finally broke. He wept uncontrollably, asking, “How did I become a murderer? Why was I locked up in prison for twenty years?” The raw pain in his voice left Wu Lei speechless. Determined to help, Wu Lei reached out to Professor Yi Yanyou of Tsinghua University and lawyer Wang Wanqiong of Sichuan, who joined the fight to clear Chen Man’s name. After 23 years, Chen Man was finally exonerated, but the lost years and broken family ties could never be restored. Wu Lei lamented, “Evil and wrongful convictions are a major feature of this system, but they are seriously ignored by society.” The transition from deprivation to despair is a recurring theme in these stories, highlighting the systemic failures that perpetuate suffering.
The voiceless victims: Mute women and the cycle of abuse
Despair deepens into horror with Wu Lei’s account of a mute woman who was sexually assaulted. Using sign language, she conveyed to Wu Lei that not only she, but an entire group of mute women, had been violated repeatedly. Their fate seemed sealed, with no avenue for justice or escape. Even within the supposed safety of police stations and detention centers, they were preyed upon. Wu Lei’s heart broke as he realized the scale of the abuse—these were not isolated incidents, but part of a broader, almost conspiratorial pattern of exploitation against the most vulnerable.
Reflecting on this, Wu Lei wrote, “Their world shocked me, and I completely collapsed. This country is full of sin!” The inability of these women to communicate their suffering or seek justice only compounded their trauma. This case, more than any other, revealed to Wu Lei the depths of cruelty that can flourish in a system devoid of compassion and accountability.
Corruption and cruelty in Qinghai Detention Center
The stories of abuse and despair culminate in Wu Lei’s experiences at the Qinghai Detention Center, where he witnessed acts that shattered his faith in human nature. The detention center director, drunk on power and alcohol, would line up detainees and slap them until their faces swelled. The only way to avoid such beatings was for detainees’ wives to submit to the director’s advances. The more attractive the wife, the harsher the punishment until she relented. Wu Lei denounced these acts as inhumane, a stark indictment of a system that rewards cruelty and corruption.
Families desperate to protect their loved ones were forced to pay bribes or make unbearable sacrifices. The sense of powerlessness in the face of such systemic corruption was overwhelming. Wu Lei’s accounts serve as a powerful reminder of the urgent need for reform and the importance of bearing witness to injustice, no matter the personal cost.
Bearing witness: The enduring legacy of a former Chinese criminal defense lawyer
The witness of a former Chinese criminal defense lawyer like Wu Lei is not just a chronicle of suffering, but a call to conscience. His stories illuminate the hidden corners of China’s detention centers and prisons, urging us to remember the humanity of those trapped within. Through his courage and compassion, Wu Lei continues to inspire others to seek truth, uphold justice, and never lose hope in the face of overwhelming darkness.
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