[Sportschosun reporter Jang Jong-ho] A shocking case has emerged in China, where a disabled elderly man was forced to work at a cement factory for nearly 20 years without receiving a single penny.
Just before his rescue, the man reportedly said, "I'm so tired. I want to go home," sparking a strong public backlash in the local community.
Authorities in Qingyuan District, Baoding, Hebei Province, China, said they recently rescued a 66-year-old disabled man, Ding, from a cement sales shop, according to Guangming Net and other outlets.
Investigators found that Ding had effectively been held in captivity for about 20 years and forced to perform strenuous labor without pay.
Police said the shop owner, a 57-year-old man surnamed Ahn, is accused of taking Ding from an acquaintance more than 20 years ago, then living with him and making him work.
Videos released online showed Ding manually moving more than 20 tons of cement every day from 5 a.m. in a workplace filled with cement dust, without any protective gear.
A health check after the rescue found no major illnesses, fortunately. Ding has since been moved to a care facility.
Police confirmed the family's identity through DNA testing on the 9th. He was identified as a resident from Shibaipo Town, Hebei Province, who went missing in 2004. His discovery at a forced-labor site after years of disappearance has also raised suspicions of possible human trafficking.
Ahn, the current owner of the shop, is in criminal custody, and police are expanding their investigation, focusing on illegal confinement and forced labor. Authorities are also examining possible links to human trafficking, along with whether local administrative bodies failed in their oversight.
The case came to light through an undercover investigation by Chinese anti-human-trafficking activist Zheng Yi. In secretly filmed footage, he spoke with Ding, who looked into the camera and said weakly, "I'm so tired. I want to go home."
According to reports, when Zheng Yi asked Ahn, "What would you do if someone without an identity died inside the workshop?" Ahn allegedly replied, "Just bury him," drawing widespread outrage. Zheng Yi said he later received multiple death threats after reporting the case.
Reporter Jang Jong-ho bellho@sportschosun.com
