Miners must be cleared of unproved fraud charge

TWO YEARS AGO, a miner surnamed Ren was detained for allegedly forging test results showing black lung disease so as to gain the medical insurance fund. Although Ren’s lung disease was confirmed by doctors appointed by the police while awaiting a trial, the charge against him was not dropped until his death in May. Beijing News commented on Thursday:

This is a sad story. And Ren is only one of several miners in Zunyi, Guizhou province, who have been accused of forging diagnostic test results yet had that diagnosis confirmed in medicals organized by the police.

The Zunyi police department owes Ren’s family and the other miners an apology and compensation, and an explanation of why it has not canceled the fraud charges even after the doctors have proved they truly suffer from the disease, which means they deserve the medical insurance fund provided by the government exclusively for black lung disease.

Facing mounting pressure from public opinion, the Zunyi police department has only said the cases have been sent to the local procuratorate for further investigation.

For the charge to be proved, the police have to show the miners colluded with their doctors to forge the diagnosis results in a bid to cheat the medical insurance fund. The Zunyi police have never provided any evidence in this regard. In fact, all of the results of the medical tests arranged by the police show the same results as those provided by the miners.

Given the Zunyi police’s refusal to answer questions and local procuratorate’s silence so far, it is necessary for higher-level procuratorate to look into the case and hold those responsible for not withdrawing the charges accountable as soon as possible. The miners should also receive compensation as well as the financial support from the State to cover their medical treatment that they are entitled to.