Suspect in central China 'AIDS demolition team' regrets 'being used'

A member of the central China "AIDS demolition team" said he regretted being used to intimidate residents into vacating their homes.

The police authorities of Nanyang City, Henan Province, is looking into allegations that an "AIDS demolition team", whose members claimed to be people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), had threatened to infect residents who refused to vacate their homes, which were set to be demolished under a government plan.

Nanyang City confirmed the existence of the team, but said it had not been established by the local government.

Police have detained several suspects, including PLWHA Cui Honglu, 48, who spoke with Xinhua reporters, from his police cell in Nanyang, about how he had been recruited.

Since being diagnosed with AIDS in 2008, Cui, who is from Nanzhao County, said he had struggled to find secure employment, and had to survive on part-time work and government allowances.

Cui explained that a man, who they called Liu Huzi, had approached Cui and other PLWHA with the demolition team "opportunity".

Liu allegedly promised that the remuneration would "support our medical expenses", Cui said, adding that he had worked for Liu previously and that Liu owed him wages.

"Six PLWHA in total joined the team," Cui said.

Cui said their first "job" was on Dec. 7, and that most of the time they were just hired muscle to stand behind company employees when they interacted with residents.

The demolition team lived in a city hotel for ten days, leaving for the community every morning at 8 a.m. and returning at 5 p.m.

Residents said that the gang had been active since early December. Allegedly one member had brandished his HIV/AIDS diagnosis documentation and the gang as a whole had threatened to infect residents that did not permanently vacate the premises.

Some residents left out of fear, one local said.

According to Cui, Liu Huzi gave each team member a 2,000 yuan (321.62 US dollars) stipend and they earned extra money by selling the doors and windows of the houses slated for demolition.

After the case was made public, Cui turned himself in.

"I've never used my illness to blackmail or threaten anyone before, and I deeply regret [allowing myself] to be used in this way."

An official with the Nanyang government said one of the companies involved in its demolition scheme had been shut down and it would be the subject of an investigation.

The photo of a piece of red graffiti, allegedly taken in a community slated for demolition, which read "AIDS demolition team", was first posted on microblogging Weibo by media in Yunnan Province. It caused public outcry and quickly went viral.

Chinese city probes "AIDS demolition team" scandal