On June 30, Fujian man Xia Pinkai was pursued across provinces by the police in Linyi County, Shandong, on suspicion of stealing liquefied gas. Despite normal physical examination results, he was detained in the Fuding Detention Center in Fujian. On July 3, the Linyi County police took him to the Dezhou Detention Center in Shandong. Three days later, his family received a death notification without being informed of the cause of death.
According to a report by The Paper on July 10, Ms. Xia from Fuding, Fujian, stated that on July 3, her brother Xia Pinkai was taken from the Fuding Detention Center by the police from Linyi County, Shandong, in connection with a theft case. On July 6, the family received a notification from Linyi County stating that Xia Pinkai had passed away.
Ms. Xia explained that on the morning of June 30 at 11 a.m., Xia Pinkai was taken from their home in Fuding, Fujian, by the Tongshan Police Station officers. The police station cited his alleged theft of liquefied gas leading to an online pursuit by the Shandong police. After confirming his physical well-being through examination, Xia Pinkai was detained in the local detention center.
On July 3, the Linyi County police took Xia Pinkai from the Fuding detention center. At 1:45 p.m. on July 6, the family received a phone call from Dezhou, Shandong, informing them of Xia Pinkai’s death and requesting their presence.
Ms. Xia stated that Xia Pinkai, born in 1983, was said by the authorities to have died in the Dezhou Detention Center. Upon arriving in Dezhou, the family saw Xia Pinkai’s body at the mortuary but was not informed of the cause of death.
On the morning of July 10, the Xingzhen Brigade of Lingcheng Sub-Bureau of Dezhou Public Security Bureau told The Paper that they had conducted an autopsy with the use of virtual imaging autopsy equipment. Xia Pinkai’s lawyer requested a third party to analyze the cause of death.
Xia Pinkai’s family, including his sister, brother-in-law, and parents, viewed some surveillance videos with the police. Regarding the cause of death, the police claimed they would investigate and inform the lawyer and family of the investigation conclusions.
This incident has since sparked widespread attention online.
The “China Xiao Lawyer,” with 16 years of practice, revealed in a video on Douyin that Xia Pinkai’s family has doubts about the legality of the Linyi County police’s inter-provincial transfer procedure. “They repeatedly asked, ‘Why didn’t you go through the normal judicial process?’, but have not received a clear answer.” “The family pointed out that when the suspect was transferred across provinces, no formal documents were signed, and the family was not informed in advance.”
“According to relevant regulations, it is necessary to differentiate between normal and abnormal deaths of detained individuals. Normal deaths are investigated by the police, while abnormal deaths are led by the procuratorate. However, with this involving multiple police authorities, establishing responsibility has become complex. Did Xia Pinkai die due to illness, accident, or other reasons? There is still no authoritative conclusion.”
The “Chinese Xiao Lawyer” disclosed, “Xia Pinkai’s family is currently negotiating with the police in Dezhou. They request access to complete surveillance footage but were told that decryption is required for certain periods. The lawyer applied for a third-party autopsy, but the police insist on using existing technical means. The progress of this case directly affects the determination of its nature. The death certificate has not been issued yet, and the body has been in the mortuary for a week.”
Netizens commented, “The reason was not disclosed. If it were due to illness, it should have been mentioned.” “If it were a sudden illness, it would have been reported.” “What other reason could there be for the cause of death? It’s quite obvious.” “With just five words ‘died in custody,’ it’s definitely not a sudden illness; otherwise, it would have been ‘died after emergency treatment for an acute illness.'”