A MAN who took a woman’s seat on a bullet train and refused to leave has been banned from rail travel for an unspecified period of time, China Railway Jinan Group said Friday.

Railway police also fined him 200 yuan (US$29), according to the group.

A video posted online showed the man, Sun He, taking a window seat in an economy coach on a train from Jinan to Beijing on Tuesday, refusing to give it back to the woman, and taunting her.

“You have three choices — stand, take my seat or go to the dining coach,” Sun told the young woman in the video. According to the tickets, Sun’s assigned seat was one row behind the woman’s.

When a train attendant came to mediate, Sun claimed he wasn’t able to stand and asked for a wheelchair. A railway police officer tried to persuade him but failed, and he was then left alone. The woman was given a seat in the business-class coach.

The punishment, released Friday, came after the incident triggered nationwide anger and online condemnation of Sun’s behavior.

(China Daily)