A court in northeast China has begun to hear a case in which a farmer petitioner sued government departments in an eastern city for allegedly forcing him into psychiatric hospital.

Liu Gang, who ran a pig farm in Linyi City of Shandong Province, claimed that he was taken to the city's asylum and transferred to a hospital's mental illness section on Sept. 19, 2008, according to the People's Court in Beizhen City, Liaoning Province.

He was then trying to file a complaint over the sudden deaths of his pigs following epidemic control measures by local authorities, the court heard. Liu is a native of Beizhen.

Liu said he was released from the hospital on Oct. 8, 2008, but was sent there again on Jan. 6, 2009, after he asked for "explanations" from the bureau of complaints and civil affairs over the first admission.

He stayed in the hospital for 36 days after the second admission.

At the end of 2009, Liu filed a lawsuit, suing the civil affairs bureau, health bureau and the asylum of Linyi City. He wanted them to restore his reputation and make compensation.

The Civil Affairs Bureau of Linyi City had requested the case be held in a court in the city but this was rejected.

On Friday, when the hearing started, the defendant and plaintiff argued whether Liu's personal freedom was illegally restricted and whether he suffered from any mental illness.

Both parties and the court agreed Liu take psychiatric tests before a ruling is handed down at another date. Endi

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