Architect in Dalian Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison and Denied Family Visits

(Minghui.org) Mr. Wang Chuang, a Falun Gong practitioner in Dalian City, was arrested at home and sentenced to a seven-year prison term.

He has been in Shenyang No 1. Prison since January 2018. Prison officials are refusing to allow family visits or let his family deposit money for him.

Mr. Wang, 52, is an architect who works with a design company in Dalian City. He is an experienced and honest professional. Having lived by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance for years, he is a diligent and well-respected employee.

Mr. Wang has two daughters, 12 and 14. His parents, both in their 80s and ill, are eager to see their only son to return home.

Arrested and Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison

On February 28, 2016, the Dalian City 610 Office launched a massive arrest effort targeting local Falun Gong practitioners. At 7:00 a.m. that morning, while Mr. Wang Chuang's wife was taking her daughters to school, Xingfu Police Station officers from the Shahekou District arrested her and took the keys to her home.

They broke into Mr. Wang's home, arrested him, and confiscated some of his personal belongings. On July 20, 2016, the Shahekou District Procuratorate approved his arrest.

Mr. Wang was tried on March 8, 2017. His lawyer defended him, entering a not-guilty plea on his behalf, and asked the court to respect the law and release him unconditionally.

Mr. Wang also defended himself and pleaded not-guilty. He said he was just following the Falun Gong principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and that the materials confiscated by police officers from his home were all related to his spiritual belief and shouldn't be used as criminal evidence.

Mr. Wang's wife also defended him. In her plea she said, “Charging Mr. Wang Chuang with 'undermining law enforcement' is ridiculous. Mr. Wang is honest and kind. He has a good reputation at work, in the neighborhood, and among friends and relatives. Even when he was persecuted, he still followed the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and explained the facts about Falun Gong to law enforcement officials. Falun Gong teaches people to be good, which helps maintain social stability.”

The Shahekou District Court in Dalian sentenced Mr. Wang to a seven-year prison term on March 17, 2017. He appealed immediately to the Dalian Intermediate Court. The Intermediate Court upheld the original sentence on September 7.

Deprived of Family Visits

Mr. Wang was taken to Shenyang No. 1 Prison in Liaoning Province in early January 2018 and incarcerated in the 19^th Division.

Mr. Wang's wife went to the prison to see him on February 6, but the official in charge talked to her over the phone and said that Wang was not allowed to meet with his family because he has refused to be “transformed” and give up his belief. Mr. Wang's wife said it was illegal to deprive him of his right to see family for that reason, and that it was a violation of his human rights. The prison official still refused to allow the visit.

Mr. Wang's wife went to the prison again on March 14, 2018. The receptionist checked her ID, then told her that she was not allowed to see Wang because she didn't have a certified letter issued by the local detention center guaranteeing that she herself was not a Falun Gong practitioner. The receptionist said that He Shoujun, the head of the 19^th Division, had handed down that decision.

Mr. Wang's wife then went to see the head of the prison. Zhao Guang, the prison director, received her and arranged for He Shoujun to see her. He Shoujun brought with him a handbook about the prison management and said she was not allowed to see her husband according to the rules in that handbook. She asked to read it and take a photo of it with her phone, but he did not permit it, claiming it was a confidential document. Mr. Wang's wife saw “Liaoning Prison (2006) Document #139, Clause 2” on the back of the handbook.

Mr. Wang's family went to the Appeals Office of the Liaoning Province Prison Management Bureau that afternoon and saw director Ye. Mr. Wang's wife told him what she had been through. Ye called the prison and reaffirmed the prison's decision that she and her husband would not be allowed to see each other.

Parties Responsible for Persecuting Mr. Wang and His Family:

Shenyang No. 1 Prison, Liaoning ProvinceWang Bin, chief of the prison;Zhao Guang, police officer #2101718;He Shoujun, head of the 19^th Division, police officer #2101091

Liaoning Province Prison Management Bureau: [phone];Yao Shiming, chief of the bureau: [phone]Ye, director, Bureau Appeals Office: [phone]