In recent years, shocking incidents of individuals being wrongly detained in psychiatric hospitals after reporting misconduct by officials have been exposed in China. Following the case of Xu Xinrui, a female college student from Chenghua District in Chengdu City, who was falsely confined in a mental institution for eight years after reporting officials’ involvement in gambling, another case has surfaced. It involves Ye Jian, a female pharmacist from Jintang County in Chengdu, who has allegedly been held in a mental hospital for six years.
According to independent investigator Wu Huaijun, after releasing a report on Xu Xinrui’s case, he revealed on December 6th another disturbing case of suspected false detainment – pharmacist Ye Jian was reportedly sent to a psychiatric hospital in Jintang County for raising concerns about local land acquisition issues involving village cadres.
Ye Jian, a pharmacist from Jintang County, Chengdu, discovered her household registration disappeared during a land requisition process, prompting her to investigate and report on alleged corrupt practices in the county. In September 2019, while petitioning in Beijing, she was intercepted and taken back to Jintang County, then forcibly detained in the Huai Zhou psychiatric ward of the Fourth People’s Hospital in Chengdu, where she has allegedly been held for over six years and subjected to various abusive treatments.
A whistleblower in Chengdu informed Wu Huaijun about Ye Jian’s ordeal, leading to an investigation where detailed evidence was gathered. They posed as community workers and managed to establish contact with the psychiatric ward to inquire about the process of detaining individuals without mental illness, unearthing a system where people are illegally detained for financial gains through medical insurance schemes.
During the investigation, Wu Huaijun discovered widespread collusion between grassroots governments and mental health institutions across the country, where individuals are falsely labeled as mentally ill to exploit healthcare funds. Unable to qualify for welfare benefits, some individuals are issued with “mental disability certificates” based on fabricated medical histories, ultimately becoming victims of a twisted system designed to siphon off public funds.
In response to these revelations, a social media account called “Yu E Green Shield” highlighted the systemic issues of collusion between local authorities and psychiatric hospitals. The cooperation between these entities has led to financial gains at the expense of innocent individuals, showcasing the dark side of corruption within the healthcare system.
Commenting on this disturbing trend, a resident named Xue from Chongqing expressed concerns about the rising number of cases where individuals are falsely labeled as mentally ill, suggesting it might be a tool used by corrupt individuals and interest groups to persecute those who challenge their authority. Urging authorities to address and eliminate this inhumane practice, he emphasized the urgency of protecting individuals from wrongful detention.
As the controversy surrounding the official investigation into the Xu Xinrui case continues, the spotlight has now shifted to Ye Jian’s situation, prompting public demand for swift and transparent investigations by relevant authorities in Chengdu. The public is eagerly awaiting the formation of a joint task force to thoroughly examine and address the troubling allegations.