Australian journalist Cheng Lei details horrific conditions trapped in Beijing ‘black’ jail

Horrific details have emerged of an Australian journalist’s life in Beijing’s notorious ‘black jail’ more than two years after she was arrested and detained over accusations she leaked state secrets.  

Chinese-Australian news anchor and business reporter Cheng Lei was arrested by authorities in August 2020 and locked up on spurious national security chargers following a closed-door trial which began on March 31 this year. 

The Daily Telegraph‘s documentary, Disappeared: The Cheng Lei Story, revealed Ms Lei’s harrowing prison conditions including being escorted blindfolded and handcuffed for monthly 30-minute press conferences.

According to consular reports prepared by Australian embassy officials, Ms Lei said she was forced to shove sanitary pads in her shoes due to the inadequate footwear.

She is also often pinned to uncomfortable chairs with heavy wooden boards and shares a cramped cell with a single bed and one toilet with three others, forcing the group to take turns sleeping. 

The mother-of-two told officials her eyesight had deteriorated after spending long hours in her cell and was told it would be a ‘hassle’ to get her reading glasses. 

 Ms Lei is dragged around blindfolded, is bound to chairs with wooden boards and shares a small cell, single bed and toilet with three other people

Ms Lei’s partner Nick Coyle said for the first six months Ms Lei was reportedly detained at the Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location (RSDL) – which is a secret police compound in Beijing.

Human rights groups claim RSDL has been used as part of China’s ‘black jail’ system since at least 2013. 

Since leaving RDSL, it’s understood Ms Lei shares a small cell with the other prisoners. 

The cell, measuring 3 metres by 3 metres, has a toilet and one bed which all four prisoners share and take turns to sleep. 

The notorious prison where Ms Lei is reportedly housed

Ms Lei shares a 3 metre by 3 metre cell with three other prisoners which has a toilet and one small bed they take turns using to sleep

Despite her confinements Ms Lei has kept a positive attitude by teaching her cellmates English through mock-up menus, Shakespeare, Desperate Housewives and lyrics  to 80’s songs including Lady in Red and Every Breath You Take. 

‘My English as a second language career is flourishing,’ Ms Lei told officials.  

‘I’m teaching my cellmates to sing. I’ve taught them Every Breath You Take, Lady in Red, Christmas songs and others. Nine all together. I want to teach them more.

‘With my cellmates, I can see how much of a difference I am making to their lives. This is uplifting for me. I’m not wasting time, and I’m not valueless.’ 

On January 26, Ms Lei reportedly hummed the national anthem under her breathe to celebrate Australia Day and read Peter Carey’s book about Ned Kelly because it reminded her of ‘quintessentially Australian characteristics’ including ‘toughness, mateship and freedom’. 

In loving letters sent to her partner Mr Coyle, who she nicknames ‘my knight in shining flip-flops’, Ms Lei said the love she has for him makes her feel strong. 

It’s reported Ms Lei has kept a positive attitude by teaching her cellmates English and by thinking about the love she has for her partner Nick Coyle (pictured), who she nicknames ‘her knight in shining flip-flops’

The reporter’s two children, aged 11 and 13 who are living with a grandparent in Melbourne, pleaded for their mum to come home in drawings obtained by The Daily Telegraph. 

Mr Coyle said the children are finding it ‘incredibly difficult’ but are dealing with it the best they can.

Ms Lei has not seen Mr Coyle, her children or her family since her detention and has only had contact with Australian embassy officials via teleconference.