Court Officials Obstruct Lawyer's Defense of Ms. Meng Xiuli

(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Meng Xiuli, from Fuping County in Baoding City, Hebei Province was illegally arrested by Wanglinkou Township police for posting truth clarifying materials on November 4, 2012. Two weeks later, news of her arrest was disclosed and her family retained a defense lawyer. Officials from the Fuping County police department, Procuratorate and court, however, collaborated and threatened Ms. Meng's family and conspired to obstruct their lawyer from submitting case files.

Party Committee, Police Department, Procuratorate and Court Conspire to Threaten the Lawyer

Ms. Meng 's family retained a defense lawyer on December 6, 2012. He was subsequently threatened by Gong Xiqiang, Fuping County Party Deputy Head, Yang Jianwei, head of the County's 610 Office, Li Lixin, Police Department Political Head and Zhai Xiangyu, deputy head of the Domestic Security Division.

A month later, the family's lawyer was able to break through the obstacles these officials had prepared for him and visit Ms. Meng. When Ms. Meng 's family and lawyer subsequently went to the Procuratorate to inquire about the case, Deputy Director Wu Pengfei denied that the office had received the case files. After persistent questioning by the lawyer, the Procuratorate finally pressed charges in court on January 17, 2013.

Ms. Meng's lawyer and daughter then went to Fuping Court on January 22 to make inquiries. The staff initially feigned ignorance, but the deputy director of the criminal chambers, Xin Jigui, accepted the lawyer's documents and agreed to let him make copies of case records.

Soon afterward, the director of the criminal chambers, Zheng Liping, entered the room and informed the lawyer that his case documents had been rejected. He also wanted the lawyer to prove that he was not a Falun Gong practitioner. The lawyer protested, but the court officials refused to allow him access to the case records.

On January 25, the deputy director of Fuping Court, Li Yingzhi, called Ms. Meng 's husband and informed him that he had been receiving a number of calls and text messages from Falun Gong practitioners. Li Yingzhi asked him in a threatening manner: “Do you want Ms. Meng to be released?”

Ms. Meng's lawyer prepared documents on February 26 applying for her release on bail and asked the family to submit the papers to the court. At the court, her family was told that the person in charge could not see them. They were instructed to leave the documents at the guard's office. To this day, the family has not heard any news about their application.

Court Deceives and Threatens Ms. Meng's Family

On March 5, the Deputy Director of the criminal chambers, Xin Jigui, sent someone to summon Ms. Meng Xiuli's husband to his office. Xin offered to allow the family to see Ms. Meng on the conditions that he and his daughter write a statement assuring that his wife would stop practicing Falun Gong and that they would not publicize the incident.

When her family is visiting Ms. Meng, they should persuade her to give up her belief and have her write a statement promising not to practice Falun Gong. The family was told they must follow all arrangements made by the court and refrain from saying anything inappropriate. If they complied, they could attend the trial.

On March 18, Xin Jigui called Ms. Meng 's husband again to inquire whether he had terminated the services of his wife's lawyer. He even threatened to exclude the lawyer from receiving further notices of Court proceedings. Xing also threatened to levy a heavy sentence if he insisted on retaining a lawyer. In addition, the lawyer would be forced to conduct the defense using materials provided by the court.

Li Yingzhi and Xin Jigui are afraid to let ordinary citizens know the truth, which is that it is constitutionally legal to practice Falun Gong. They obviously fear that any defense would underscore the fact that they knowingly violated the law and their deeds would be exposed.

Persons and Organizations Responsible for the Persecution:

Gong Xiqiang, Deputy Secretary of the County Committee:[phone] (Cell)
Wang Shihua, Court Director: [phone]
Li Yingzhi, Assistant Court Director: [phone], [phone] (Cell)
Zheng Liping, Director of Criminal Convictions Bureau: [phone]
Xin Jigui, Assistant Director of Criminal Convictions Bureau: [phone] (Cell)
Li Lixin, Political Commissar of the Police Department: [phone] (Cell)
Di Xiangyu, Deputy Director of Domestic Security Division: [phone] (Cell)
Yang Jianwei, Director of 610 Office: [phone], [phone] (Cell)
Qi Xiaobing, Wanglinkou Police Station head:[phone] (Cell)
Meng Lianghui, Director of the Procuratorate: [phone]