Boy, 9, locked in cage and thrown in lake for stealing

[Jazzy]

A nine-year-old boy was locked in a cage for a day and then thrown into a lake for stealing.

According to local media, Jin Hung was forced into a small cage after residents found out he had been stealing money from neighbours.

After an entire day spent in the cage, the nine-year-old was then tossed into a shallow lake, where he was told to remain while locals hurled insults at him.

‘We all knew in the village that there was somebody stealing, if it wasn’t eggs from our hen house or vegetables, and even on some occasions cash from inside empty properties,’ said Yuan Kang, one of the neighbours.

‘When he was caught red-handed we went round to his house and demanded to see inside his room, where we found a jar filled with money hidden under his bed.

‘This was obviously his ill gotten gains, and he needed to be taught a lesson that stealing is wrong.’

The punishment only ended when Jin’s parents called police, who took the boy, shivering and crying, from the water.

Photos of the nine-year-old’s punishment sparked intense debate on Chinese social media site Weibo, with some saying it was cruel and other saying it was fair.

Thoughts about his punishment?

 

[DrLeftover]

He probably won't steal any more.

On the other hand, in the US, he'd be given counseling, and maybe have to sit in a group talk session where he'd learn how to steal without getting caught.

 

[Jazzy]

I don't agree at all with how they punished him but I do agree he has learned his lesson the hard way.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

I'd say that's child abuse. They could have thought up a more humane way to get their point across.