A probe into the death of a Chinese national at a Scottish detention centre has been launched.
Xi Biau Huang died at Dungavel Detention Centre in South Lanarkshire on September 19, 2017, after informing staff he felt unwell numerous times.
The 54-year-old suffered a fatal heart attack during his two week detention but he was never taken to hospital despite persistent complaints about his health during his time at the centre.
A fatal accident inquiry into his death began at Hamilton Sheriff Court today and is expected to last until Friday, August 19.
Mr Huang was a much-loved husband, father, and grandfather of three who had lived peacefully with his wife and family in Liverpool for 13 years.
But his immigration issues began when the company he was working for closed down and he lost his job.
The Home Office previously refused to provide details when charity Positive Action in Housing raised questions about how Mr Huang died inside Dungavel.
Chief Executive of Positive Action in Housing, Robina Qureshi, said: “It has been five years since we first raised questions about Mr Huang and the circumstances of his death.
"For the sake of his family and those still at risk of detention, we hope the Fatal Accident Inquiry brings out the truth of what happened to him while he was detained.
"Immigrants who have committed no crime should not be detained like criminals.
"Would he still be alive had he not been detained and been able to freely attend hospital to see a specialist with the support of his family?"
Earlier this year it emerged that pregnant asylum seekers and children were being held alongside violent sex criminals in the facility.
A hard-hitting inspectorate report said it was “concerned” that females were held at Dungavel beside “several men with a history of sexual violence against women.”
Some of the men were awaiting deportation after being release from prison following a conviction a crimes including rape and sexual assault in the UK.
Prior to the pandemic, they were in a separate wing but were moved to rooms in areas shared with vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers.
Many other failings have also been reported about the practices within Dungavel and UK Detention Centres.
At the end of 2017, plans were announced to close Dungavel, with a short-term holding centre to be built in Paisley.
Positive Action in Housing led a Scotland-wide campaign to block planning permission.
The Home Office confirmed that Dungavel would remain open after Renfrewshire Council's planning board firmly rejected the application.
The charity continues to call for the closure of the Dungavel removal centre in Scotland which is operated by Geo Group UK Ltd.
The centre holds up to 249 detainees and there is only 14 women in the facility.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We offer our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mr Huang.
“We take the welfare of all those in our care incredibly seriously. Any death that occurs in immigration detention is subject to investigation by the police, the coroner or Procurator Fiscal in Scotland and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.”
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