(Minghui.org) Mr. Yang Zongbo went to the Tahe County Police Department in Heilongjiang Province on January 18, 2016 to seek the return of his personal belongings, which were confiscated when officers raided his home on June 2, 2015.
Instead of getting his money back, Mr. Yang was taken into custody and remains in detention. In addition, officers extorted another 600 yuan from his family.
The items taken by police include nearly 30,000 yuan in cash, a bankbook, a personal computer, ID card, and Falun Gong books and materials. Mr. Yang had been saving the money to pay for his child's college tuition soon after the Chinese New Year on February 9.
Since the Chinese communist regime began its persecution campaign against the Falun Gong meditation practice in 1999, practitioners in every corner of China have faced arbitrary detention, imprisonment, forced labor, and even torture for refusing to renounce their faith.
Mr. Yang's mother, in her 80's, went to the detention center two days before Chinese New Year, but was denied visitation. His parents received the official arrest warrant on February 23. They were told that Mr. Yang's case had been reported to higher authorities, and that he would likely be sentenced to several years in prison.
Mr. Yang, 45, found relief from severe migraines after he started practicing Falun Gong. Prior to his current detention, he had been detained four times, held in a forced labor camp for one year, and forced to undergo brainwashing for refusing to renounce Falun Gong. His home has been ransacked by police multiple times.
Entire Family Targeted
Mr. Yang's siblings, who also practice Falun Gong, have also been targeted for their faith.
His older sister Yang Yunjie was arrested multiple times, given two years of forced labor, and forced to undergo brainwashing.
Another one of his older sisters, Yang Zongying, was arrested 12 times, given forced labor terms twice, and died as a result of torture in April 2014, at the age of 45.
His brother-in-law Chen Tianjie was arrested four times, given one year of forced labor, and sentenced to 11 years in prison.
His younger brother Yang Zonghai was arrested multiple times, given one year of forced labor, and had to leave his home to avoid further persecution.
Partial list of perpetrators:
Tahe County Domestic Security DivisionCui Yuzhi, Captain, in her 40's, 18645723021 (Mobile)Han Degang, police officer, 13846558007 (Mobile)
Tahe County Police DepartmentLiu Yayou, Chief, 13846558353 (Mobile)
More detailed perpetrators' information is available in the Chinese version.
