Man Buys Pair of Socks, Finds Letter From Alleged Chinese Torture Victim

December 22, 2015

A man found a distressing and unusual letter written in Chinese hidden inside a pair of socks sold at clothing retailer Primark in Metrocentre, Newcastle.

Shopper Shahkiel Akbar got the note translated into English after being curious of what it said. He was shocked to find out the letter seemed to be a desperate cry for help from a man who claims to have been tortured for a crime he claims he did not commit. The alleged Chinese victim claimed he was framed for blackmail and fraud.

Retail chain Primark said the letter has been done before and is part of a hoax, but Akbar thinks otherwise.

“I knew it was something sinister when I saw it. I was really shocked. I do feel responsible now I have found this. I just thought I need to shout it out,” he told the Daily Mail.

The concerned shopper initially took the letter to his local Chinese takeaway to see if the staff could translate it for him. When the owner said he was Korean and could not read Chinese, Akbar used an app on the phone to translate the words into English.

The full letter reads:

“My name is Ding Tingkun, male, 39. Address: Anhui province, Suzhou City, Lingbi County, Damiao Township, Shatan Village, Sixth Collective.

Because I went to Beijing, to report truthfully to national government leaders about corrupt police officials abandoning their positions and openly protecting mafia gangs and criminals, I was falsely accused and set up for fraud and blackmail by Lingbi County, Damiao Township police station leaders Gu Min, Jiang Guangzhao etc. and illegally sentenced on June 29, 2014, by Lingbi County People’s Court for three years in jail.

Afterwards, I appealed to Suzhou City Mid-level People’s Court.

On May 19, 2015, Suzhou City Mid-level People’s Court declared: Lingbi County People’s Court’s decision has been overturned. The details are unclear and there’s not enough evidence. The case is to be reassessed.

At present I am forcefully detained at Lingbi County detention centre. My body and mind have been subjected to extreme torture and damage!

Whoever sees this letter, please give it to national government leader President Xi Jingping, Premier Li Keqiang or expose this through a journalist or media!

Thank you!

My wife and I have both been made paralysed.

Source of plea: Ding Tingkun

June 22, 2015, Ling County”

A Primark spokesman brushed off speculation that the letter is authentic and in any way related to the company.

“The Primark name is being used to gain publicity for the plight of this individual. We have found no link at all between this individual and any of our suppliers’ factories in China,” he told the Daily Mail.

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