Desperate farmer stoops to robbery

A 19-year-old Beijing farmer, who committed robberies so that he could receive free medical treatment in prison, has been admitted to hospital, Beijing News said yesterday.

Li Dawei (not his real name), who is suffering from aplastic anemia, a bone marrow disease, is receiving treatment at a hospital in northern Beijing under the custody of the police, the report said.

Li was sentenced to 18 years in prison for armed robbery. He used a home-made gun to steal a taxi driver's vehicle in December last year. He later sold vehicle for 15,000 yuan ($2,200), the Beijing Youth Daily reported on Wednesday.