BEIJING - A LAWYER in southern China is suing a judge who ordered him handcuffed to a basketball pole after he refused to sign court documents, a state newspaper reported on Tuesday.

He Yunxiang called it 'illegal imprisonment' after the judge in Yunnan province told police to handcuff him to an outdoor basketball pole on Friday, the official China Daily reported. He had refused to sign court papers for a property case, the report said.

He was freed 40 minutes later after the Chengjiang county court's vice director learned of the incident.

'That is criminal, and I am claiming criminal liability from him,' the newspaper quoted Mr He as saying. The report did not say what damages he was seeking.

Calls to He's Zhenxu law firm and to the Chengjiang county court rang unanswered on Tuesday.

He said he declined to sign court documents because the judge refused to include the defendant's husband in the case, which was pertinent as both names were on a property deed, the China Daily reported.

The report said the director of the court had issued an apology to Mr He, and the director of the Yunnan Provincial Court has called for an investigation. -- AP