SHI WEIHAN UPDATE: FAMILY REQUESTS MEDICAL EXAM,

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 003119 SIPDIS DEPT FOR DRL/IRF, EAP/PD, EAP/CM, CA/OCS/ACS/EAP E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2028 TAGS: PHUM PGOV KIRF CASC CH SUBJECT: SHI WEIHAN UPDATE: FAMILY REQUESTS MEDICAL EXAM, RELEASE TO HOME CONFINEMENT REF: BEIJING 1352 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Deputy Political Section Chief Ben Moeling. Reasons 1.4 b,d. ¶1. (C) PolOff spoke August 13 with Zhang Jing, wife of detained Bible printer Shi Weihan. Zhang said she is concerned about her husband's health and noted that he has lost 30 lbs. since his detention March 19. Zhang said Shi, who is in Beijing's main municipal jail, is receiving medicine to control his diabetes but the Public Security Bureau (PSB) is not allowing him to receive regular medical checkups. ¶2. (C) Zhang reported that the PSB has still not allowed her any contact with Shi, even by mail. Shi's lawyer last visited him in early August. During that visit, Shi told his lawyer that investigators forced him to sign a statement that he had received RMB 10 million (USD 1.4 million) in revenue from the printing of 2.7 million Bibles and religious tracts. (Note: Shi, according to a copy of the arrest notice seen by PolOff, is under investigation for operating an illegal business.) According to Zhang, the police did not allow Shi to consult with his lawyer before signing the document. Zhang said she has received no information regarding when Shi will be indicted or go on trial. ¶3. (C) Zhang asked the USG to again raise her husband's case through official channels and to request specifically that Shi be given regular medical checkups and that the PSB release Shi to home confinement pending the end of the investigation. PolOff protested Shi's treatment and detention and relayed the requests for medical checkups and home confinement August 14 to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Human Rights Department official Xu Jing. ¶4. (SBU) (Note: Shi and Zhang are the parents of AmCit child Shi Enmei (about 7 years old). Post does not have a privacy act waiver associated with this case.) RANDT