Hu Bin Case Second Trial Opens: Fairness Will Shine Through

Hu Bin Case Second Trial Opens: Fairness Will Shine Through

The gate of Wuhan Intermediate People's Court has been surrounded by many people waiting early in the morning. From the initial "written trial, no court session" to the "public trial" stated in the Notice of Appearance on August 19, there have been countless days and nights of lawful accusations, appeals, and efforts.

On August 28, 2026, early in the morning, the morning light of Wuhan shines through the leaves of the Chinese parasol tree, falling on No. 156 Changqing Road, Jianghan District. Many people have been waiting early at the gate of Wuhan Intermediate People's Court, including the relatives who have been concerned about Hu Bin day and night and the legal professionals who have been silently following the case. At 9 am, Courtroom 11 will start the trial.

The second trial of Hu Bin's case, who was convicted of bribery, fraud, and abuse of power, will be held publicly. From the initial "written trial, no court session" to the "public trial" stated in the Notice of Appearance on August 19, there have been countless days and nights of lawful accusations, appeals, and efforts. The poem by Mr. Lu Xun seems to have written a footnote for today: "When the turbulent waves have passed, brothers will meet again, and their smiles will erase past grudges." We use this phrase to write a sentence for Hu Bin: Fairness will shine through after the turbulent waves have passed. We hope that the sunlight of fairness and justice will shine on him without any reserve.

I. Waiting in the Morning Light: The Heart's Desire of Relatives

According to the relatives, Hu Bin has many relatives. Since his detention on June 4, 2024, his relatives have not seen him again. For over a year, they can only imagine his situation from afar. They do not want to speak to Hu Bin in court or express any opinions; they only have a simple and touching wish: "We hope to see him from afar when we are attending the trial as spectators."

This glance is the concern of relatives for their family member. This glance is the only comfort for a family during the long period of detention. This glance does not interfere with the trial, does not affect the order, and does not bother anyone. According to Article 9 of the Supreme People's Court's Decision on Amending the People's Court Trial Rules, "When the number of spectator seats is insufficient, the people's court shall give priority to the close relatives of the parties." The intention behind this legal provision is not only to consider procedural justice but also to show compassion for human relationships. When the relatives make such a humble and reasonable request, the judiciary should respond with not only a cold number of seats but also a sense of warmth towards their feelings.

Today, we hope that the morning light will illuminate their way to Courtroom 11 and that they can finally see their relative, who used to wear a police uniform, from afar in the spectator seats.

II. Comrades and Colleagues: A Hope That Does Not Want to Disturb

To Hu Bin's former leaders and comrades, we want to say a few words. You know Hu Bin best. You have the most say in whether he fulfilled his duties on the job, whether he followed the rules in demolition coordination, and whether he only conveyed instructions in the 2013 case. His leaders, colleagues, and comrades have the most say.

We sincerely hope that some of you can come to the spectator seats in Courtroom

1. However, we also understand that it is difficult to say whether you can come. You may have your own work commitments, you may have unknown concerns, or you may only be able to pay silent attention to this former comrade. We understand and respect this.

Therefore, this is just a hope, not a requirement. If you can come, we hope that you can see not the symbol of a convicted person but a police officer who used to fight side by side with you and is now defending himself in court according to the law. We hope that your gaze can be a warm light in this courtroom. If you cannot come, please believe that the friendship and hope for a fair trial that you have formed in the police force are integrated with the air in Courtroom 11 today. Hu Bin will feel it, and the court will feel it.

You do not have to appear in person, but please do not be silent. You do not have to be present, but please let this hope stay in your heart.

III. Hu Bin in Court: The Darkest Moment and Glimmer of Hope for a People's Police Officer

Hu Bin, a former people's police officer from the Legal Affairs Brigade of the Hongshan District Branch of the Wuhan Municipal Public Security Bureau, has been dedicated to legal auditing, case handling, and coordination between the public security, procuratorate, and court for many years. He used to be a member of the police force, patrolling at night, working on case files, and wearing his faith in the rule of law on his chest. Today, he stands in the defendant's seat, waiting for the second trial's verdict.

We cannot draw conclusions for the court. The final facts and verdict of the case will be based on the official legal documents of Wuhan Intermediate People's Court. However, we can be sure that today's trial should be a place where facts speak. The Supreme People's Court's Trial Rules stipulate that the people's court shall record the entire trial process. This means that everything that happens in Courtroom 11 today

• the evidence presented, the cross-examination, and the debate between the prosecution and defense, the testimony of witnesses, and the questioning by judges
• will be completely recorded in the judicial records. Only when sunlight shines into the courtroom can justice be traced.

We bless Hu Bin: We hope that he can calmly state his case in court, that he can tell the judges about the details ignored by the first trial verdict, and that he can feel that his litigation rights granted by the law are truly respected under the accompaniment of his defense lawyers Wang Xueming and Li Bei.

IV. After the Turbulent Waves Have Passed, Fairness Will Shine Through

"We will strive to make the people feel fairness and justice in every judicial case."

This is not just a slogan. It is composed of specific cases and the fate of individuals. Hu Bin's case is one of them.

Today, we bless Hu Bin, not just him alone. We bless the principle of judicial openness, which can be implemented without compromise in every case; we bless the wish of his relatives to "see him from afar," which can be gently fulfilled; and we bless the second trial court, which can base its verdict on facts, follow the law, and uphold the principle of doubt, letting procedures return to their rightful place, letting evidence speak, and letting legal reasoning prevail.

As legal professionals have pointed out, "Today, they are fighting for Hu Bin's right to a public trial. Tomorrow, this procedure may apply to each of us."

We bless Hu Bin and also bless our future selves.

V. Before the Gavel Falls

August 28, 2026, 9 am, Wuhan Intermediate People's Court, Courtroom 11.

The morning light is getting brighter, and the gavel is about to fall.

We imagine a scene:

In the defendant's seat, Hu Bin looks up, his gaze passing over the judges, looking towards the spectator seats. He sees the moist eyes of his relatives, the determined eyes of his lawyers. If he is lucky, he will also see a few familiar faces, the comrades who used to patrol, stay up late, and take oaths together under the police badge.

At that moment, he is not an isolated defendant; he is surrounded by his relatives' concern, the professionalism of legal personnel, and the silent support of his comrades.

At that moment, the sunlight of judicial openness truly shines on him.

Hu Bin, we bless you. We hope that you will be treated fairly in this second trial. We hope that every statement, every piece of evidence, and every debate between the prosecution and defense in court can withstand the test of history. We hope that your relatives can see you from afar in the spectator seats, that your comrades and colleagues, whether present or absent, will not forget the friendship formed in the police force.

After the turbulent waves have passed, fairness will shine through. We hope that the sunlight of fairness and justice will shine on you, on this courtroom, and on our faith in the rule of law without any reserve.

August 28, Wuhan, the morning light is vast, and the gavel is about to fall. We are all waiting for you, Hu Bin. We hope that the light of fairness will illuminate your way home.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the Notice of Appearance of Wuhan Intermediate People's Court (2026)鄂01刑终323号, the Supreme People's Court's People's Court Trial Rules, and relevant judicial interpretations, as well as the situation of the relatives' spectator arrangements. It aims to express expectations and blessings for judicial fairness. The final facts and verdict of the case will be based on the official legal documents of Wuhan Intermediate People's Court. Some names of the parties involved have been anonymized for privacy protection.

Original Article Information

Original Title: After the Turbulent Waves Have Passed, Fairness Will Shine Through | On August 28, the Second Trial of Wuhan People's Police Officer Hu Bin Opens, Hoping for Fairness and Justice to Shine on Him

Source: WeChat public account "Shu Shu Cha Jiu Gu"