Escaping jail hell: Cheng Lei Pt.2

Explicit content warning

06/02/25 • 58 min

For Cheng Lei, being stuck in a Chinese jail was like being buried alive in a concrete coffin. Wrongly incarcerated on espionage charges, the Australian journalist endured years of hell. Her hair fell out, she suffered insomnia and was only known by a number. But the worst part was not seeing her two young children. Almost two years after she was released and reunited with her family, Lei joins Gary Jubelin to share what it took to survive.

Cheng Lei: My Story premieres Tuesday June 3 at 7:30pm AEST on Sky News Australia

Stream at SkyNews.com.au or download the Sky News Australia app

Cheng Lei: A Memoir Of Freedom by Cheng Lei will be published by HarperCollins on Wednesday, June 4 and is available to pre-order now.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cheng Lei: My Story premieres Tuesday June 3 at 7:30pm AEST on Sky News Australia

Stream at SkyNews.com.au or download the Sky News Australia app

Cheng Lei: A Memoir Of Freedom by Cheng Lei will be published by HarperCollins on Wednesday, June 4 and is available to pre-order now.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Previous Episode

Tortured inside China’s secret prison: Cheng Lei Pt.1

One moment Cheng Lei was off to work, the next she was arrested, blindfolded and forced into a prison cell. For almost three years, Lei endured psychological torture after she was wrongly accused of being a spy. Locked in a padded cell, the journalist was under constant surveillance, with two guards never leaving her side. The lights never turned off, eerie Beethoven music was played every morning and she was only allowed to say five sentences a day. It was a horror Lei thought would never end.

This episode contains mentions of suicide and family violence, if you need support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 1800 737 732.

Cheng Lei: My Story premieres Tuesday June 3 at 7:30pm AEST on Sky News Australia

Stream at SkyNews.com.au or download the Sky News Australia app

Cheng Lei: A Memoir Of Freedom by Cheng Lei will be published by HarperCollins on Wednesday, June 4 and is available to pre-order now.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Next Episode

Tragedy of school girl Zahra Baker: Liz Hayes Pt.1

Zahra Baker was brutally murdered and dismembered by her stepmother when she was 10 years old. Former 60 Minutes reporter Liz Hayes sat down with the woman responsible in prison - and it was one of the few times she walked away stunned. On this episode, the veteran journalist takes Gary Jubelin through some of the biggest stories of her career including the dingo who stole Lindy Chamberlain’s baby to the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio.

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I Catch Killers with Gary Jubelin - Escaping jail hell: Cheng Lei Pt.2

Transcript

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The public has had a long held fascination with detectives. Detective sy aside of life, the average persons never exposed her. I spent thirty four years as a cop. For twenty five of those years, I was catching killers. That's what I did for a living. I was a homicide detective. I'm no longer just interviewing bad guys. Instead, I'm taking the public into the world in which I operated. The guests I talk to each week have amazing stories from all s