Horrifying facts about an Australian journalist, Cheng Lei’s, ordeal in Beijing’s infamous “black cell” have come to light. She was accused of illegally supplying state secrets overseas. A Beijing court is holding a closed-door trial for Australian journalist and former TV anchor Cheng Lei, in a high-profile diplomatic case. However, Cheng’s family maintains she is innocent.
Charges against Cheng and her secret trial
Cheng Lei was taken into custody by the police in August 2020 and imprisoned on national security charges. The secret trial started on March 31 of this year. Disappeared: The Cheng Lei Story, a documentary by The Daily Telegraph, exposed Lei’s horrifying prison conditions. It included being escorted blindfolded and tied to monthly press briefings lasting 30 minutes.
Notably, Canberra has repeatedly raised concerns over her detention and has called for “basic standards of justice” to be met. Little is known about the exact nature of Cheng’s alleged offenses. Moreover, it’s not clear when a verdict will be handed down.
This is deeply concerning, unsatisfactory and regrettable- Australia
Lei claimed that because of the poor footwear, she was compelled to stuff sanitary pads in her shoes, according to consular reports created by Australian embassy employees.
She also frequently has heavy wooden planks used to tether her to uncomfortable chairs, and she and three other prisoners are forced to alternate sleeping quarters in a small cell with a single bed and a single toilet.
Australia’s ambassador to China Graham Fletcher said, “this is deeply concerning, unsatisfactory and regrettable. We can have no confidence in the validity of the process which is conducted in secret,” he said, adding that Australia would continue to “advocate strongly for Lei’s rights and interests”.
Lei, who was previously reported to have suffered ill health while in detention, was now “doing okay” considering the circumstances, said Fletcher. Lei’s lawyer had also told Australian media that she was in good health and good spirits.
