(Minghui.org) Three women from Jixi City, Heilongjiang Province, appeared in Mishan Court on November 5, 2019, to face charges for refusing to renounce their faith in Falun Gong.
After the lawyers representing Ms. Sun Jinkui, Ms. Wang Yali, and Ms. Wang Shugui systematically refuted the evidence presented by the prosecution, the prosecutor said to the presiding judge, “I can't provide a good rebuttal to these arguments. If needed, I can withdraw these cases.”
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a mediation system based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began to suppress the practice in July 1999, untold numbers of practitioners have been arrested, detained, imprisoned, and tortured.
The hearing took place between 10:50 a.m. and 3:25 p.m. with a one-hour break. Ms. Sun Jinkui and Ms. Wang Yali were represented by two lawyers who pled not guilty on their behalf. Ms. Wang Yali also testified in her own defense. It was unclear whether Ms. Wang Shugui's lawyer also entered a not guilty plea for her.
The prosecutor claimed that 230 booklets and 19 bundles of books containing information about Falun Gong were found in Ms. Wang Yali’s home. Ms. Wang Yali said she never had that many materials in her possession. Her lawyers also said it was impossible for a small cabinet, where the prosecutor alleged the books were found, to hold that many books. The lawyers asked to have the video of the police searching her home played in court. The judge agreed. The video failed to show the police had ever confiscated 19 bundles of books or 230 booklets.
The indictment against Ms. Wang Yali listed seven witnesses, including the two police officers who arrested her. Ms. Wang said only the officers were present when they seized her and there were no other eyewitness. Her lawyers asked for the identities of the additional five witnesses and challenged the prosecutor to call his witnesses to show up in court to accept cross-examination.
Unable to address such questions, the prosecutor told the judge that he could drop the cases if needed. The hearing was adjourned when Ms. Wang Yali requested verification and expert appraisal of the evidence.
The three practitioners have been detained for over a year. When Ms. Wang Yali was arrested on November 8, 2018, two officers took her keys and ransacked her home without a search warrant and in her absence. They then demanded that she sign the list of confiscated items.
Ms. Wang Shugui and her mother were arrested on November 9, 2018, although her mother was released later that day. Ms. Sun Jinkui was arrested by officers from Xiangyang Police Station on the morning of November 10 and her home was ransacked that afternoon.
The Mishan Procuratorate forwarded their cases to Mishan Court on July 17, 2019.
Parties Responsible for the Persecution of These Three Women:
Zhang Ying, presiding judge: +86-467-5266753 (O), +86-467-5228757 (H), +86-133-5187-8568Qu Lili, prosecutor
Related Report:
Additional Persecution News from China – March 13, 2019 (16 Reports)
