Ye Guozhu was released on October 15, 2008. His brother, Ye Guoqiang, said that Ye Guozhu was forced to sign an agreement accepting compensation for his eviction. Ye was threatened with new charges and continued detention if he did not sign, and was pressured into stating that he did not require a lawyer during his time in custody. During his four years in prison, Ye Guozhu’s health has deteriorated. He was forbidden from seeing his elderly mother and father, and his mother died while he was in custody. Ye has been exhausted by his ordeal and is currently resting and receiving medical treatment.