It is not the first time that someone who claims to be normal has been thrown into a mental institution. But this time, there are reasons for angry public suspicions over the plight of a runaway "mental patient" recently recaptured by police in another city.

Xu Wu, a former employee of the Wuhan Iron and Steel Group, was caught in Guangzhou last month while seeking media help to expose what he describes as four years of forced imprisonment at a mental hospital in Wuhan. Before that, he repeatedly approached higher authorities to appeal a legal case in which he tried to sue the company for unfair wages.

The company and Wuhan police denied that Xu was kept away because of a mistaken psychiatric diagnosis. Then a press conference scheduled for May 4 was canceled.

This was not a wise move, because attempted coverups never work.

There is nothing to fear or hide from local authorities. The city government of Wuhan needs to look into the case promptly. If an investigation shows it's the steel company's problem, the relevant people should be held responsible according to regulations and laws. If an independent medical examination verifies that Xu is mentally ill, the Wuhan government should publicize the result in a sincere and convincing manner.

As long as Xu's case is handled in accordance with proper procedures, we believe the public will accept the conclusion. For the steel company, this is not necessarily a damage-control crisis.

Public anger often arises when local authorities attempt to cover up embarrassing incidents. Some officials do this for fear of hurting their political careers. Others do it simply as a knee-jerk reflex. But in the age of the Internet, coverups arouse instant suspicion and are counter-productive.

Mental illness and medical mistakes are inevitable in a developing society. The city or company in which a scandal breaks out will not necessarily be condemned or have a bad reputation nailed to the ground forever. As long as local authorities frankly admit mistakes and apologize sincerely for the wrongdoings of a few, the public will be more understanding than the authorities may think.

China's petition and appeal system, a traditional system designed to give people a chance when they believe they have been wronged by local authorities, is losing ground because of its "low-profile" proceedings, hidden from the media and the public.

The appeal offices at various levels of government should be the most candid departments in the public eye. But we seldom hear from these offices in the media.

We understand the pressures the appeal offices feel on a daily basis, as too many people converge on Beijing and local offices are required to limit the influx. But the government should frankly explain the dilemma to the public rather than acting under the table.

Admitting mistakes never hurts the authority of a government. Instead, the truth enhances the government's credibility.