Defending the case for human sympathy

Shanghai's Minhang district made a name three months ago for the collapse of a newly built 13-storey apartment building. Now it has become a battleground for human sympathy against the power abuse by a local law enforcement team.

Zhang Jun, a white-collar worker who was fined 10,000 yuan ($1,470) for illegally carrying passengers in his car, filed a lawsuit last week against the Minhang Traffic Administrative Law Enforcement Unit. He demanded that the defendant revoke the penalty and pay the court fees.

It all happened on Sept 8 this year when Zhang, marketing manager of a multinational firm, was driving to work. A man pleading stomachache and inability to find a taxi asked Zhang for a ride.