Defense Lawyers Question Judge's Handling of Case in Jiujiang County Court

(Minghui.org) Mr. Wang Quansheng and Ms. Wu Donglian, two Falun Gong practitioners from Jiujiang County, Jiangxi Province, were arrested by local police on May 7, 2012 and brought to trial on August 17, 2012. Those wishing to attend the proceedings were harassed by the police before the trial, and during the trial, the judge illegally tried to stop the lawyer's defense. The defense lawyers for the two practitioners pointed out the prosecutors’ illegal behavior in persecuting the two Falun Gong practitioners.

At 9 a.m. on August 17, Mr. Wang's and Ms. Wu’s family members, as well as fellow practitioners and their lawyers all arrived at the De'an County Court. However, the court did not open until almost 11a.m. At that time four police officers came to the De'an County Court and started checking and interrogating people inside and outside the courthouse. They checked the visitors’ purses and bags and their IDs, trying to find out who the Falun Gong practitioners were. They stopped visitors outside of the court and those who did not bring their IDs. The police unlawfully took photos and threatened them. Wang Yijin, deputy team leader of the Jiujiang County Public Security Bureau, found two practitioners, Hu Juan, and Tian Haiying (who had their IDs with them) inside the court, and yelled out loud to Tian Haiying: “Tian Haiying, what are you coming here for? You get out of here.” Tian Haiying asked them: “Can I not just sit and visit here?” Wang Yijin continued to yell to Tian Haiying: “No, what are you here for? Get out, get out! If you persist on staying, I will arrest you!” Wang Yijin also threatened Hu Juan: “You're here as well? Get out, get out! If you don't, I will call your husband to drag you home!” (Hu Juan’s husband is currently working as a part-time driver for the Jiujiang Public Security Bureau.)

The lawyers from Beijing stopped the unlawful action of Wang Yijin on the spot by saying: “It is the legal right for a citizen to visit the court. You have no right to interfere with them.” Wang Quansheng’s younger daughter was also driven out of court. Only after her family objected strongly did they allow her to get in.

The court did not start its session until after 11a.m. After the prosecutor, Wu Guodong, read the prosecution statement, he did not say a single word. Then the lawyers from Beijing started to defend Mr. Wang Quansheng and Ms. Wu Donglian. The lawyer asked Wang Quansheng: “Why do you practice Falun Gong?” Mr. Wang answered: “I saw the people around me after practicing Falun Gong. They not only started to get healthy but also improved themselves to be good people by following the teachings of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. I think it is a really great practice; that is why I continue to practice Falun Gong.” The lawyer asked him: “I heard that you used to be a loafer who liked gambling.” Mr. Wang answered, “Yes, after practicing Falun Gong, I knew I needed to follow the teachings to be a good person, get rid of my bad habits, and I'm also becoming very physically healthy.”

The lawyer asked Mr. Wang: ‘When the police arrested you, did they show you a warrant?” Mr. Wang answered: “No.” The lawyer then asked: “When the police arrested you and took you to the detention center, did they show you the notice for detention?” Wang Quansheng answered: “No.” The lawyer then asked Wang Quansheng’s family: “When the Jiujiang Public Security Bureau's National Security Team came to your home to search it, did they show you the search warrant?” The answer was: “No.”

When they were asking these questions, Judge Chen Heguo rudely interrupted the lawyer, stopping him from asking more questions. The lawyer used reason to counter the judge's interruption, and the judge announced that they would have a recess, daring not to continue with the trial.

That same afternoon, the lawyers went to the Jiujiang City Procuratorial Office, the Jiujiang County Procuratorial Office, the Jiujiang City Intermediate Court, and the Jiujiang County Court Discipline and Investigation Team to report to them about the unlawful behavior of Chen Heguo in court. They also went to the Jiujiang City Procuratorial Office, the Jiujiang County Procuratorial Office, the Jiujiang City Public Security Bureau, as well as The Discipline and Investigation Team of the Jiujiang County Public Security Bureau, to report to them the unlawful behavior of the four policemen led by Wang Yijin.

Prior to all of that happening, when the court initially called the lawyers, they notified them that the location of the trial was at the Jiujiang County Court. Later on, the staff of the Jiujiang Court was afraid that the local people would come and hear the trial, so they suddenly changed the place of the trial to the De’an County Court, telling the lawyers: The trial is to start at 9 a.m. on August 17, 2012.

The practice of Falun Gong keeps people fit, and it absolutely does not violate any laws. The law stipulates that citizens have the right of freedom of belief. When Falun Gong practitioners pass out truth-clarifying materials, persuading the Chinese people to quit the CCP and its related organizations, they are executing their constitutional right to freedom of speech and are not violating the law. On the contrary, whoever participates in persecuting Falun Gong are the ones really committing crimes. They deserve to be punished in both the court of law and the court of morality.

More and more lawyers are now stepping forward to defend Falun Gong practitioners. Today in mainland China, there are over ten righteous lawyers who have been commended by the international community for defending Falun Gong practitioners. Currently the former President of China, Jiang Zemin and his associates have been found guilty by courts in dozens of countries around the world for the crimes of genocide, torture, and depriving Chinese citizens’ basic human rights. They are facing global prosecution.

Related personnel who participated in the persecution of Mr. Wang Quansheng and Ms. Wu Donglian:

Wang Jianmin, Director of the Jiujiang County Procuratorial Office: [phone] (cell), [phone] (Office)
Li Wanmu, deputy director of the Jiujiang County Public Security Bureau (also holding the position as the head of the 610 Office): [phone] (Home), [phone] (Cell)
Zhang Bo, current team leader of the Jiujiang County Public Security Bureau National Security Team: [phone] (Office), [phone] (Home), [phone] (Cell)
Wang Yijin, deputy team leader of the Jiujiang County Public Security Bureau: [phone] (Home), [phone](cell)
Song Yajuan, head of the Jiujiang County Court: [phone](office), [phone] (cell).

Please refer to the original Chinese text for more names and telephone numbers.