Lawyer to sue court police over alleged beating

A lawyer, who alleged he was beaten by a court police officer, will sue the officer involved, he told the Global Times Sunday.

"The head of the court called me today, saying they are considering whether to dismiss the policeman who beat me," the lawyer surnamed Zou, from Beijing Yingtian Law Firm, said Sunday.

Zou was forcibly removed from court by three officers during a civil case in Shijingshan district court on Wednesday.

When he appeared later, he had injuries to his head, arms and shoulders, said Zhao Shumin, daughter of the 80-year-old female plaintiff whom Zou represented.

The judge adjourned the proceedings as the defendant was absent because of illness, which made Zhao angry, she said.

"I argued with the judge. Zou said I should stop when court police showed up," she said, adding that after Zou told the officers not to talk to her, as their "job is to maintain order," the officers took Zou away.

"I don't know why they took Zou, as I was arguing with the judge," she said.

Zou said they dragged him into an elevator and one man kicked him in his genitals.　

"I said I would sue him, but he said he wasn't scared by that," said Zou, "then they took me to a dark place on the first floor and beat me for about two minutes."

Zou still feels faint and has chest pain. "I'll sue the one who beat me," he said.

The head of the court police told the Beijing Times Friday that the officers did their job in accordance with the law, while not admitting they beat Zou.

Wang Li, a law professor at Southwest University in Chongqing, said that court officers had no right to beat a lawyer.

"The one who allegedly beat the lawyer will face administrative punishment, such as detention or dismissal," Wang noted.