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Yating Yang

The story of a 15-year-old boy in China who was forced to do 1,000 deep squats as a punishment, leaving him needing a kidney transplant, has sparked outrage online.
The tragic tale began in August 2023, when the boy, identified by the pseudonym Ajun, from Guilin in Guangxi province, southern China, was caught stealing 3,500 yuan (US$500) in cash from a parked car.
However, because he was under 16, the minimum age for criminal prosecution, the police sent him to Yongqing School for “corrective education”.
His father, Jiang Peifeng, said Ajun was about to start his third year of secondary school and was going through a rebellious phase.

He believed that turning his son over to the authorities might teach him a valuable lesson.
“He was a bit mischievous but had never broken the law before. They did not tell me what he had done, they just said they would tell me once things became clear,” Jiang told Guangxi Daily News.
However, on September 13, Jiang received a call from the Central Hospital of Yongzhou, telling him that his son had been admitted in critical condition and needed to be transferred to a higher-level facility.
Jiang was shocked to find Ajun’s body swollen and covered in sores.

The father later learned that 20 days earlier, Ajun had been physically punished at the school, along with a classmate.
On September 1, a drill instructor surnamed Du had ordered them to do deep squats.
That day, around 30 students were punished and Ajun completed about 1,000 squats in just 45 minutes.
“The instructor made me do them with my hands clasped behind my head. I counted about 1,000. Afterwards, my legs were shaking and I could barely stand,” Ajun said.
Three days later, he noticed blood in his urine and that his legs had begun to swell.
Despite being diagnosed with kidney cysts, the physical training continued.
During a morning session, he was reportedly slapped and kicked by Du and forced to stand.
Ajun’s condition deteriorated rapidly.
He was later diagnosed with kidney disease and high levels of urine in his blood.
Last June, he underwent a kidney transplant.
Jiang said he had sold their home and taken out a bank loan of 450,000 yuan (US$63,000) to cover almost a million yuan in medical expenses.

Last June, Jiang filed a lawsuit against the Yongzhou Public Security Bureau Lengshuitan Branch and Yongqing School.
In March, forensic experts concluded that Ajun’s conditions were directly caused by excessive physical punishment and classified him as having a level five disability.
On June 18, the Yongzhou Intermediate People’s Court heard the case in a second trial, but no verdict has been announced.
The case has sparked outrage online.
One person said: “What kind of idiot instructor gives out 1,000 squats? That is something even special forces would not survive.”
“The instructor is inhuman. But, child, you should also have the right and courage to say no!” said another.


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China teen boy forced to do 1,000 deep squats at delinquent centre gets kidney failure

A teenage boy in China was forced to do 1,000 deep squats at a delinquent centre, causing him to suffer from kidney failure. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock


Ajun outside the centre in which he endured the deep squats punishment. Photo: cqcb.com

Ajun and his father, Jiang Peifeng, outside the court where they would eventually find justice. Photo: cqcb.com

Ajun in a hospital bed. The cost of his treatment has plunged his family into debt. Photo: cqcb.com

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Boy’s father thinks time at ‘corrective school’ will teach ‘rebellious’ son a lesson, ends up deep in debt over medical treatment


Boy’s father thinks time at ‘corrective school’ will teach ‘rebellious’ son a lesson, ends up deep in debt over medical treatment.


Crime in China

Children in China

China teen boy forced to do 1,000 deep squats at delinquent centre gets kidney failure

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Boy’s father thinks time at ‘corrective school’ will teach ‘rebellious’ son a lesson, ends up deep in debt over medical treatment

Boy’s father thinks time at ‘corrective school’ will teach ‘rebellious’ son a lesson, ends up deep in debt over medical treatment