Prosecutor Unable to Disprove Defense Arguments, Lawyer Requests Client's Release

(Minghui.org) A 59-year-old woman from Baoding City, Hebei Province, was tried on December 11 in a conference room in a remote detention center where she has been held since her second arrest on August 13. Only two of her family members were allowed to attend the hearing.

Ms. Chen Huiran (陈会然) was charged with “using a cult organization to sabotage law enforcement,” a pretext frequently used by the Chinese Communist Party to frame and sentence Falun Gong practitioners.

Ms. Chen's lawyer pointed out that his client has the constitutional right to believe in Falun Gong. He also made it clear that no law has ever classified Falun Gong as a cult, which means that the persecution of the practice has no legal leg to stand on.

When the prosecutor cited items confiscated from Ms. Chen's home as evidence against her, her lawyer said the Constitution guarantees citizens' right to freedom of expression and freedom of print. As such, Ms. Chen had every right to make and possess materials exposing the persecution of Falun Gong.

Ms. Chen also testified on her own behalf. She told everyone how her heart problem, bladder stones, fluctuating blood pressure, and long-term insomnia disappeared within three months after she started to practice Falun Gong in January 1998. She also became more willing to help others as she learned to live by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

“I did nothing wrong and should be acquitted,” declared Ms. Chen.

Unable to disprove Ms. Chen and her lawyer's testimonies, the prosecutor offered to withdraw the case temporarily so he could gather more evidence.

Ms. Chen's lawyer strongly opposed the prosecutor's proposal and requested the unconditional acquittal and release of his client.

In point of fact, Ms. Chen's case had already been dismissed once by the procuratorate on June 12, following her first arrest on May 14 this year.

The police, however, fabricated more evidence against Ms. Chen and arrested her a second time in August before finally getting her indicted on October 16 and tried last month.

Ms. Chen has been incarcerated in the detention center since the trial.

Parties Involved in Persecuting Ms. Chen:

Li Qiang (李强), Xinshiqu Court: [phone]Jia Rui (贾蕊), procuratorial officer: [phone]Yao Minfeng (姚敏峰), chief, Xinshiqu Police Department: [phone]Nie Weixin (聂卫新), head of Xinshiqu Procuratorate: [phone]