Experts urge prudence after resident detained for parking ticket gripe

Police in Shandong have apologized to a man they had detained for five days after the case drew nationwide attention.

A local resident surnamed Cao, 21, in Yanzhou, posted complaints on an online forum of Baidu - one of China's most popular Internet platforms for netizens to share information - after he was fined for illegal parking on April 28.

According to a micro blog post by Yanzhou's public security bureau on Tuesday, Cao called police officers "scum", and subsequently got a five-day detention for insulting police on May 4. The case drew criticism from Internet users, with many saying the police had abused their power.

"The punishment was inappropriate. We've decided to revoke the decision on Cao's detention and apologize to him," the public security bureau announced in a statement on Wednesday night.

Judicial experts suggested that officers exercise more prudence when enforcing the law.

Ding Jinkun, a lawyer in Shanghai, said it is unreasonable and even against the law for police to detain a man who "just grumbled online".

Under Chinese law, targets of insults must be an individual to be actionable, not a group or organization, Ding said on Wednesday.

Cao's complaints obviously were made over the fact that he got a ticket for illegal parking, and didn't target a specific traffic police officer, he said.

Chen Xu, a professor at China University of Political Science and Law, said a five-day detention is heavy punishment for such a case, when the man was simply venting his dissatisfaction over law enforcement.

"Police can punish him by other means, such as education and fines, instead of stripping him of his freedom," Chen said. "Such a punishment won't solve the problem. It may even heighten conflicts between police and the public."

"Police, of course, can use the law to keep order on the Internet. But law enforcement should be humane," he added.

More than 16,000 netizens have commented about the case on the bureau's micro blog page, criticizing what they call an abuse of power.

"How can you detain a citizen so randomly? Where is our freedom of speech? Those who abuse their power must be punished," one Internet user wrote.

Many just repeated the same insult that led Cao to be detained: "You are scum."

The Southern Metropolis Daily said that Cao learned he had been fired by his company after he was released from detention.

Wang Wenbin, a publicity officer at the police bureau, said Cao had "changed his cellphone number and refuses to grant interviews".

Yao Kefeng, an attorney in Beijing, said that Cao can apply for an administrative review or appeal in court if he believes his punishment was unreasonable.

Also, his company acted illegally by firing him, he said.

Contact the writers at caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn and zhao-ruixue@chinadaily.com.cn.