(Minghui.org) A married couple from Jiansanjiang were sentenced to prison for filing criminal complaints against the perpetrators of the persecution of Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline based on the principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Mr. Shi Mengchang and his wife, Ms. Han Shujuan, who both practice Falun Gong, have been repeatedly arrested and incarcerated for their faith since former Chinese dictator Jiang Zemin launched the persecution in July 1999.
Mr. Shi Mengchang
Despite years of brutal persecution, Mr. Shi and Ms. Han were never deterred as they knew it is their constitutional right to practice and spread information about Falun Gong. Their latest efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice, however, were met with a fresh prison sentence. Mr. Shi was given 2.5 years and fined 20,000 yuan; Ms. Han received 2 years with 4 years’ probation and was fined 10,000 yuan.
Mr. Shi and his lawyer noted the judge’s softened stance on Falun Gong during the trial, but the judge still sentenced him to prison under pressure from the Heilongjiang 610 Office, an extralegal agency tasked with eradicating Falun Gong and given power to override judicial and law enforcement systems.
“10.28 Incident” Precedes Latest Arrest
The couple, along with their son and six other local Falun Gong practitioners, were arrested on December 24, 2015, two months after the so-called “10.28 Incident.”
On October 28, 2015, these nine practitioners delivered copies of their criminal complaints against Jiang and the local Qinglongshan Brainwashing Center to the Heilongjiang People’s Procuratorate, the Heilongjiang People’s Superior Court, and the Heilongjiang Provincial People’s Congress. They also included DVDs on which they'd recorded their personal accounts of experiencing abuse, including torture, at the brainwashing center.
The practitioners were not just appealing for their own right to freedom of belief. They were also seeking the release of four other practitioners arrested in March 2014 and sentenced to prison in May 2015. The practitioners arrested in March were seeking release of yet another group of detained practitioners.
Mr. Shi’s younger brother, Mr. Shi Mengwen, is one of the four practitioners. While the younger Mr. Shi is serving 3 years in prison, the older Mr. Shi has become one of the latest victims in the Chinese communist regime’s attack on Falun Gong as he sought his brother's release.
Police Sweep Follows 2 Months Later
Mr. Shi Mengchang and the other practitioners’ open protest of the persecution of Falun Gong struck a nerve at the Heilongjiang authorities. A “10.28 special task force” was soon formed, headed by the Heilongjiang 610 Office.
Wang Xiankui, Secretary of the Heilongjiang Province Chinese Communist Party Committee, directed the arrest of the nine practitioners two months later.
While Mr. Shi’s son and a few others were later released, Mr. Shi and his wife remain detained.
Not-Guilty Plea
Mr. Shi was tried on July 13 of this year. Judge Wang Jingjun presided over the hearing, while Liu Aiyin from the Jiansanjiang Procuratorate was the public prosecutor.
Attorney Mr. Ma Wei entered a not-guilty plea for Mr. Shi and defended his client’s constitutional right to freedom of belief.
Mr. Ma argued, “No law in China ever criminalized Falun Gong. As such, my client committed no crime by filing complaints against the perpetrators that infringed upon his freedom of belief. He caused no harm to anyone, let alone undermined law enforcement.”
When Mr. Shi asked the court play the DVDs showing practitioners recounting their experiences of torture at the brainwashing center, Judge Wang declined his request.
Mr. Shi then proceeded to demonstrate the torture he suffered at the brainwashing center.
Mr. Ma followed up saying, “Many of the interrogation records and witness testimonials have no signatures and should not be used as prosecution evidence against my client.”
Softened Attitude from Judge
Mr. Shi admonished the judge and the prosecutor that they’d be held liable if they failed to uphold justice for innocent citizens like him.
Judge Wang replied, “I received many phone calls from your fellow practitioners requesting your release. I know [the consequences of giving wrong sentences] and I thank you for your reminder.”
As Mr. Shi and his wife were in and out of detention for their faith over the years, Mr. Shi’s elderly mother never stopped appealing for justice for them. She was also present at the trial, and judge Wang allowed her to briefly meet with her son towards the end of the proceeding.
Attorney Ma noted the softened attitude of the judge. He said to Mr. Shi’s family, “The court proceedings followed the law for the most part today and I was able to articulate my defense arguments. It’d be unthinkable in the past for the court to allow a Falun Gong practitioner-defendant to talk to his or her family after the trial.”
610 Office Still in Control
Sadly, the court proved to be a rubber stamp when it comes to Falun Gong cases. Judge Wang was still pressured by the 610 Office to mete out a prison sentence to Mr. Shi. The verdict was announced on August 11.
Ms. Han was tried on June 30, but details of her hearing remain to be investigated.
Related Reports:
Update on Heilongjiang Human Rights Case: 4 Falun Gong Practitioners Recently Sentenced, Vow to Fight the Verdict Heilongjiang Authorities Arrest Nine in One Day Over Human Rights CasePractitioners Tell of Their Ordeals in Qinglongshan Brainwashing CenterMr. Shi Mengchang and Wife Not Released from Brainwashing Center Because the Family Hired a LawyerAn 80-Year-Old Mother Pleads, “Release My Son and Daughter-in-law”Mr. Shi Mengchang from Heilongjiang Province Persecuted to EmaciationMs. Han Shujuan Arrested at Home, Sick Father in His 70s Left Unattended
