“Susu” Lu Ke, 27, of China was accused of using Malawian children to film personalized greetings videos. Some of the videos, which were sold online in China, contained racist content.
On Chinese social media and internet platforms, Susu’s videos were being bought for up to $70. In one video, a group of Malawian children said in Chinese in unison, “I’m a black monster and my IQ is low.”
A voice off-camera instructed the children, who did not understand what they were saying. In February 2020, the video began to circulate on Chinese social media.
In June 2022, BBC released a documentary about the racist videos. Shortly after, Susu left Malawi and illegally entered Zambia as Malawian authorities issued a warrant of arrest against him.
Days later, Susu was arrested in Zambia and extradited to Malawi. On July 18, 2022, he appeared in a magistrates court in Lilongwe, Malawi.
At the hearing, Susu neither had legal representation nor entered a plea. He asked for court bail, which was denied.
Susu was charged with five counts of child trafficking. He was remanded to the prison in Maula, Lilongwe for 15 days as the authorities work on finalizing the investigations.
According to Susu, the videos he made were meant to spread Chinese culture to a community in Malawi. While he denied making derogatory videos, he paid 16,000,000 Malawian kwacha ($16,000) to the Malawian government to compensate his victims and for social responsibility activities in the community.
Ultimately, a total of 14 charges were filed against Susu, including child trafficking, procurement of children for use of entertainment, illegal use of the internet and harmful social practices. He has been in police custody until his sentencing on July 20, 2023.
That day, Susu was sentenced to 1 year in prison, which he has already served in police custody. He was ordered to leave Malawi within seven days and prohibited from coming back to the African country.
CONAN Daily 