Chinese National Imprisoned for Whipping Rwandan Man

A Chinese national in Rwanda, who was caught on video whipping his employees, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for torture.

Last August, a video clip of Sun Shujun flogging two men – Rwandans who worked for him at a mine in Rutsiro district – made the rounds on social media. Both men were tied to a pole or tree as they were being whipped.

According to Shujun, the victims had stolen minerals from him, hence their punishment – an act which the Chinese embassy in Kigali deemed as “unlawful”.

On Tuesday, 19 April, Shujun received his lengthy prison sentence, although he has the right to appeal to a higher court.

Renzaho Alexis, another Rwandan man in Shujun’s employ who aided him during the flogging, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for abetting torture.

The following day, the Chinese embassy released a statement in which they lauded the verdict, and expressly urged Chinese nationals to abide by Rwanda’s laws.

By the same token, they added that they would like “the case to be handled appropriately in a rational, fair and just manner, and requests the legitimate rights of the Chinese citizens to be properly protected.”