To better understand this case, one would first have to understand the system of justice in rural China. The laws in rural China are different from those of a larger city, such as Beijing. In rural China, corruption in the legal system is high, and a formal standard of justice is low. A recent international news article highlighted this problem, when a poor farmer who couldn't afford to pay the roadway tolls found a way to cheat the system. When it was found that he'd failed to pay the equivalent of thousands of dollars, judges sentenced him to life in prison. Public outrage caused the judges to be fired and the case to be overturned. But this case is typical of the kind of injustice that prevails in rural China.
Huai'an City in the Jiangsu Province of China is no exception. Fueled by the need to fill quotas (which bring policemen financial reward) the police of Huai'an City are known to make up cases, accusing people of crimes they didn't commit. Torture is an acceptable tactic among the prosecutors for getting the confessions they need to fill their quota and get a bonus. Wang Hengwang and his colleagues are victims of this corrupt system.
Wang Heng Wang was the group leader for the Industrial Development Department of Huai'an City. His nightmare began when it was discovered that Wang's coworker, Jiang Hui, was in possession of a false diploma he had used to get his current job. Desperate for more names, the prosecutors tortured Hui into naming additional crimes and accomplices. After days of unimaginable torture, Hui caved in and "admitted" to another crime. For the privilege of a regular meal, some sleep and avoiding his regular beatings, Hui told the officers that he and the other three men in his department had accepted bribes from their clients.
The prosecutors quickly rounded up Wang Heng Wang and the other two men and ordered them to "confess" to their deeds. The men refused. After days of severe torture, the men still stood firm. Realizing that this could go on until he died, the police gave Wang an ultimatum: by signing the confession and paying a small fine, he would be allowed to go home to his wife and 14-year old daughter. Wang eventually caved under torture and signed the confession. Little did he know that the prosecutors not only cheated him but also videotaped and broadcast this false confession to the public. Wang is still in custody with his three colleagues, waiting for their case to make it through court.
A false case has quickly formed around the men. Fake clients have been added, all of whom were also tortured into admitting that they bribed the department. For fear of having the same things happen to them, judges and lawyers have decided to side with the police, narrowing the chance for these men to be vindicated. Exposing the truth has proven to be incredibly dangerous: two accused clients of Wang's went to court to prove their innocence, even though it changed nothing.
