On May 16, four foreigners allegedly jumped turnstiles and pried open a pool lock in a Chinese gym. After refusing to apologize, police mediation forced them to pay 2,000 RMB compensation and issue an apology.
Tags:
Source: OT-Team(G), 大熊饭局访谈录
A Chinese gym owner's video went viral after four foreign nationals allegedly jumped the turnstile, pried open a pool lock, and worked out for free — then refused to apologize when caught.
According to the gym owner, the four individuals bypassed the membership card access system by jumping over the turnstiles. The incident on May 16 marked their second unauthorized entry. Not only did they work out for free, but they also jumped into the swimming pool with their clothes on — before the pool’s official opening time at 10 a.m. — after forcibly prying open the pool area lock. Later, still in wet clothing, they moved to the equipment section. The owner said he only became aware of the situation after another member reported it.
After the owner filed a police report, authorities quickly located where the men were staying. The owner made it clear that he intended to seek legal accountability. During police questioning, it was confirmed that the gym does not belong to the hotel where the men were staying. One of the men responded: "I thought it was part of the hotel. I asked the front desk about a swimming pool. They said no, but added that if I go out of the hotel and turn left, there is one." The group then entered the gym without payment or authorization.
When police asked how they accessed the pool area, one of them replied: "We just walked in. We found it open." However, the gym owner disputed this, noting that the lock had actually been pried open. Police then asked directly: "Did the four of you damage the lock?" One of the foreign nationals then turned to the gym owner and said: "Alright, how much money do you want?" The owner replied: "I don’t want your money. I want you to be held legally responsible."
A translation app was used to ensure accurate communication. The foreign nationals claimed they found no one at the reception. The owner’s side responded: "Does that make it logical? If you pay, you are welcome to come in. But without permission from anyone on our side, you cannot enter our private gym. Jumping into a privately operated facility is not allowed. This has nothing to do with fees. Second, the pool is a dangerous area without lifeguards on duty. Surveillance footage shows you were splashing around and are not strong swimmers — that created a major risk for our club. Our pool area has clear signs saying no diving, no horseplay. You followed none of those rules. And without staff present, we have no way of knowing if you contaminated the water quality."
One of the foreign nationals responded by offering to pay for two days of gym access to settle the matter, saying they were busy. Another added: "We have many business deals in China. We are actively cooperating. We’re not criminals — why would we go to the police station? Isn’t that what you want — money? What else do you want?" The owner replied: "You’re being arrogant. You violated Chinese law. We want to hold you accountable. If you keep up this attitude, we will formally press charges. We weren’t originally planning to ask for compensation, but your arrogance is unacceptable."
The owner then itemized the costs: four entry fees and one pool cleaning and water replacement fee. He offered to provide an invoice if needed, but made it clear that if the men did not issue a formal apology, he would pursue legal action.
Due to their attitude, the owner decided to go to the local police station and file a report for property damage. At the station, one of the foreign nationals spoke privately with the police. The owner claimed a total of 2,500 RMB in costs, while the foreign nationals offered 2,000 RMB. Despite multiple rounds of police-mediated discussions, the owner was able to prove the men had entered his gym, but police noted that because the pool lock area is adjacent to the showers — an area without surveillance — they could not establish sufficient evidence for criminal filing.
Ultimately, the four foreign nationals agreed to pay the gym owner 2,000 RMB in compensation and issued an apology. However, due to daily transfer limits, the payment could not be completed that day. Police requested that the men leave their identification documents at the station. One of them then changed his story, claiming he could use a hotel deposit to pay, and led the owner back to his hotel. When the hotel refused to release the deposit for that purpose, the man finally called a friend in China, who made the payment on his behalf. Police issued a formal mediation agreement concluding the case.
No comments:
Post a Comment