简体中文
A US federal court has ruled in favor of Chinese businesswoman Zhao Yan, who sued the US government after she was beaten and injured by a US border inspector at the Niagara Falls in 2004.
District Judge Elizabeth Wolford on Monday awarded Zhao 461,152.09 US dollars in damages for the injuries that she suffered from the assault by the US Customs and Border Patrol Officer Robert Rhodes, according to the ruling documents from the US District Court for the Western District of New York in Rochester.
Wolford's ruling found the US government liable for Rhodes' "assault and battery and false arrest" of Zhao when she was sightseeing at the Rainbow Bridge US-Canada border crossing in Niagara Falls 13 years ago.
Rainbow Bridge border crossing
Zhao was entitled to recover 64,313.18 in past medical expenses, 1,838.91 in past lost earnings, 260,000 in past pain and suffering, 125,000 in future pain and suffering, and 10,000 for false arrest, said the ruling.
It's barbarous
Zhao was pepper-sprayed and struck by Rhodes as he mistook then 37-year-old lady as a drug smuggler when she was waiting to cross the US-Canada border near Niagara Falls on July 21, 2004.
Zhao claimed she was abused by Rhodes even after she showed her legal travelling ID.
"I have been to many countries in the past for business purposes, and the United States is the most barbarous," Zhao was quoted as saying.
Six days after the assault, Zhao told reporters that she suffered from severe headaches and back pain as well as mental trauma.
Her case drew wide criticism in China.
Chinese Foreign Minister then Li Zhaoxing phoned his US counterpart Colin Powell about the brutal abuse, and urged the US side to carry out a thorough investigation into the attack and bring those responsible for the incident to justice.
Powell promised a thorough investigation.
Rhodes initially was fired and criminally charged with violating Zhao's civil rights. He was acquitted at a 2005 trial and eventually reinstated to his job.
(CGTN)
