Society

Detainee beaten to death in N China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-06-10 22:35

HOHHOT - A detained man was beaten to death by 11 other detainees in a detention center in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region in late May, local authorities said Thursday.

Ma Xiaokang was detained at a jail in Baotou city at 2:40 am after a gang fight on May 29. Guards then found him beaten by other detainees in the same cell and stopped the attack, according to a statement from the municipal government.

Related readings:  Detention houses to open to public from July  China amends law to specify compensation for prolonged detention  Detention rule triggers debate  Three top cops sacked over detention death

Ma was beaten again by detainees from 7 to 8 am. The guards did not become aware of the beating until 9:10 am. Ma was taken to a local hospital where he died at 11:25 am.

The statement said the detention center's head, deputy head and political commissar have resigned. Three police officers involved have been suspended for the investigation.

The 11 detainees who beat Ma are also under investigation. Ma's family has accepted compensation from the local government, the statement said without giving details.

Detention centers are under increased public scrutiny after a spate of detainee deaths drew public attention from 2008.

In a campaign to win over critics, detention centers across the country will be opened to the public from July 1, according to a statement from the Ministry of Public Security.