(Minghui.org) Mr. Chen Mingan, 57, is a Falun Gong practitioner in Xian City, Shaanxi Province. He was arrested on July 21, 2015, for filing a criminal complaint against Jiang Zemin, the former head of the communist regime.

Mr. Chen was detained, tried and sentenced based on false evidence, and tortured during his detention. He wrote an appeal letter in Weinan Prison in May 2017, but the letter was intercepted by guards.

Police in Violation of Chinese Law

Mr. Chen was arrested at the door of his home at 8:15 p.m. on July 21, 2015. His whereabouts were unknown for more than 20 days.

Under Chinese law, the arresting officials must inform the family, work unit, and local police of the detainee within 24 hours of the arrest.

The family learned that Mr. Chen was arrested by officers from the Hujiamiao Police Station and Taiyigong Police Station, and was detained in the No.1 Detention Center in Xian City. The family went to the detention center and demanded his release, but the request was rejected.

Two police officers from Xincheng District attempted to interrogate his family on August 16, 2016 after he had been held for more than one year. His daughter, Ms. Chen Jie, refused to let the officers enter the home. They inquired about the lawsuit against Jiang Zemin and made a video of the process. Ms. Chen refused to answer the questions and protested the illegality of their action.

Illegal Evidence

Mr. Chen was formerly arrested on August 25, 2015 by the Changan District Procuratorate. His daughter refused to sign the arrest notice and wrote on it that the charge was “fraudulent.” However, his case was forwarded to the district court.

Mr. Chen was tried by the Changan District Court on December 11, 2015. When Mr. Chen's defense lawyer argued against the legal basis of the evidence presented, the prosecutor did not reply. Mr. Chen also defended himself.

Officers from the Xian 610 Office and the police department also threatened any practitioners trying to attend the trial or standing in the vicinity of the Changan Court house.

The deadline for a verdict passed after three months. So his family went to see judge Yao Huapeng, who said that the deadline was automatically extended. The family asked whether there was such a law? The judge raised his voice and said that it was because he said so.

The verdict was announced nearly 11 months later. Mr. Chen was sentenced to a three year prison term on November 2, 2016. He appealed his case, but it was denied by the Xian Intermediate Court in January 2017.

Tortured in Weinan Prison

Mr Chen has been detained in Weinan Prison since March 13, 2017. He was found to have lost a lot of weight when his family visited him on April 24. Mr. Chen was also suffering from insomnia.

According to practitioners recently released from that facility, Mr. Chen was beaten by guards during brainwashing sessions. He wrote another appeal letter that was intercepted by guards in May 2017.