A female AIDS patient in Shenzhen City, southern China's Guangdong Province, tried to get sent to jail so she would be looked after by setting fire to a transmitter tower on Wednesday, Southern Metropolis Daily reported yesterday. But police stopped her and sent her to hospital for free treatment.

The woman moved waste paper into a transmitter tower in Shenzhen's Longgang District and lit it at about 3:40pm. She then lay down beside the fire and closed her eyes.

A security guard stationed nearby questioned the woman, who said she hadn't eaten for days, her health was deteriorating and she feel she was going to die. Longgang police said they found the woman burning paper when they arrived at the scene and stopped her immediately. Firefighters put out the fire later.

The woman had reportedly twice tried to set fire to the tower, but each time it was put out by security guards.

She had also demanded money by threatening passers-by with a syringe several times, according to the newspaper. The Chinese government has promised free medical treatment for AIDS patients who cannot afford it since 2003, but the woman seemed unaware of that.

(Shanghai Daily September 4, 2009)